EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order applies in relation to Wales certain provisions which have been made amending the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2517) (“the 2005 Order”) in relation to England and Scotland. Those amendments were made by the Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1167) (“the 2016 Order”) and the Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/1178) (“the 2017 Order”) and the Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1048) (“the 2018 Order”).

Those Orders implemented in relation to England and Scotland certain provisions including Commission Decision 2002/757/EC and Commission Implementing Decisions 2014/690/EU, 2015/789/EU, 2015/893/EU, 2012/535/EU, 2015/2416/EU and 2017/204 and Decision No 1/2015 of the Joint Committee on Agriculture relating to the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products (2017/169/EU).

In addition it introduces a new provision to allow the disclosure of information for the purposes of the 2005 Order from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to the Welsh Ministers.

It implements the specific control measures to prevent the introduction of the pest Xylella fastidiosa in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2352.

Moreover this Order implements measures which strengthen import and movement requirements for oak trees, to minimise the risk of further incursions of Thaumetopoea processionea (oak processionary moth (OPM)).

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.

This instrument does not relate to withdrawal from the European Union / trigger the statement requirements under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.