EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Plant Health (Fees) (England) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/601) (“the principal Regulations”).
Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations (“Schedule 2”) sets out reduced rate fees for certain plants and plant products which are subject to reduced levels of plant health checks agreed under the procedure provided for in Articles 13a(2) and 18(2) of Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (OJ No L 169, 10.7.2000, p. 1). Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends Schedule 2 to give effect to the latest notification published by the European Commission of the reduced plant health checks which are applicable to certain plants and plant products.
The inspection rates in respect of the following commodities referred to in Schedule 2 have increased, with matching increases in fees: Citrus from Egypt (from 15% to 25%), Malus from Argentina (from 25% to 35%), Malus from the USA (from 50% to 75%), Passiflora from Kenya (from 15% to 25%), Capsicum from Israel (from 5% to 10%) and Momordica from Surinam (from 25% to 35%).
The inspection rates in respect of the following commodities referred to in Schedule 2 have decreased, with matching decreases in fees: Dianthus from Kenya (from 10% to 5%), Dianthus from Turkey (from 25% to 15%), Rosa from Zambia (from 15% to 10%), Passiflora from Colombia (from 10% to 7%), Prunus from Morocco (from 50% to 25%), Prunus from the USA (from 50% to 25%) and Solanum melongena from Turkey (from 10% to 5%).
Fruit of Citrus from Tunisia and Mexico are no longer eligible for reduced rate fees and are subject to an inspection rate of 100%. Accordingly, the relevant entries are removed from Schedule 2 and the fees in Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations are applied to these consignments.
Aster from Zimbabwe and Passiflora from Vietnam are eligible for reduced rate fees since those commodities are now subject to inspection rates of 75% and 35% respectively.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.