45.—(1) The responsible authority for a free zone in Northern Ireland must immediately notify the Department of any notifiable item which it knows or suspects—
(a)is likely to enter the free zone; or
(b)is present in the free zone and has not been cleared out of charge under the Customs Act.
(2) A notice under paragraph (1) may first be given orally, but must be confirmed in writing as soon as reasonably practicable.
(3) In this article—
(a)“free zone” has the same meaning as in the Customs Act;
(b)“notifiable item” means—
(i)a plant pest which is of a description specified in Schedule 1 or in column 3 of Schedule 2;
(ii)a plant pest which, although not specified in Schedule 1 or 2 is not normally present in Northern Ireland and which is likely to be injurious to plants in Northern Ireland; or
(iii)relevant material of a description specified in column 2 of Schedule 3 which originates in a country specified in the entry in respect of that description of relevant material in column 3 of that Schedule;
(c)“the responsible authority” has the same meaning as in the Customs Act.