(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/3026) (“the Principal Regulations”) in relation to Wales.
The amendments set out the revised requirements which apply in Wales in relation to forest reproductive material produced in countries outside the European Union and—
(a)implement Council Decision 2008/971/EC on the equivalence of forest reproductive material produced in third countries (OJ No L 345, 23.12.2008, p. 83), as amended by Decision No. 1104/2012/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No L 328, 28.11.2012, p. 1); and
(b)implement in full the derogation permitted by Commission Decision 2008/989/EC authorising member States, in accordance with Council Directive 1999/105/EC, to take decisions on the equivalence of the guarantees afforded by forest reproductive material to be imported from certain third countries (OJ L 352, 31.12.2008, p. 55).
Regulation 3(1)(b) provides for the references to Council Decision 2008/971/EC in the Principal Regulations to be read as references to that instrument as amended from time to time.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.