The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019

Statutory Instruments

2019 No. 1517

Environmental Protection, England

Plant Health, England

The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019

Made

20th December 2019

Laid before Parliament

23rd December 2019

Coming into force

14th January 2020

The Secretary of State is designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 M1 (“the 1972 Act”) in relation to the common agricultural policy M2 and measures relating to the control and regulation of genetically modified organisms M3 .

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of, and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the 1972 Act.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the 1972 Act and it appears expedient to the Secretary of State for the references to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants M4 , and to the European Union instruments mentioned in regulation 3(1), to be construed as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

Marginal Citations

M1 1972 c. 68; section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51) and Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c. 7). It is prospectively repealed from exit day by section 1 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) (see section 20 of that Act).

M2 S.I. 1972/1811, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations. The function of the former Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of making regulations under section 2(2) was transferred to the Secretary of State by S.I. 2002/794.

M3 S.I. 1991/755, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations. The function of the former Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of making regulations under section 2(2) was transferred to the Secretary of State by S.I. 2002/794.

M4 OJ No. L 319, 10.12.2019, p.1.

PART 1 E+W Introduction

Citation, commencement, extent and application E+W

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019 and come into force on 14th January 2020.

(2) They extend to England and Wales and apply in relation to England only.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 1 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Interpretation: general E+W

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 2005 Order” means the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 M5 ;

“the 2015 Order” means the Plant Health (England) Order 2015 M6 ;

“appropriate authority” means the Secretary of State or the Forestry Commissioners, and is to be construed in accordance with regulation 6;

“commencement date” means the date on which these Regulations come into force;

“controlled consignment” means a consignment containing any plant, plant product or other object—

(a)

which may not be brought into the Union territory without a phytosanitary certificate for export or a phytosanitary certificate for re-export pursuant to—

(i)

Article 72 or 74 of the EU Plant Health Regulation;

(ii)

an EU emergency decision; or

(iii)

any other EU plant health rule, other than Article 73 of the EU Plant Health Regulation; or

(b)

which was exported from the Union territory to a third country and is returning to the Union territory following the refusal by that third country to allow its entry into the country;

“controlled plant pest” means—

(a)

a plant pest of a description specified in Annex 2, 3 or 4 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation;

(b)

a plant pest of a description specified in an EU emergency decision; or

(c)

a plant pest subject to any other EU plant health rule[F1 , including a potential quarantine plant pest within the meaning given in regulation 21(3)];

“Council Directive 2000/29/EC” means 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 M7 ;

“EU emergency decision” means an instrument referred to regulation 3(1);

“EU Plant Health Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants M8 ;

“EU plant health rule” means a rule within the meaning given in Article 1(2)(g) of the Official Controls Regulation;

“ISPM 15” means International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 of March 2002 on Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade, prepared by the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations M9 ;

“Official Controls Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, insofar as it applies to EU plant health rules M10 ;

“Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants M11 ;

“plant health inspector” means an official plant health officer appointed by the Secretary of State or the Forestry Commissioners;

“plant pest” means a pest within the meaning given in Article 1(1) and (2) of the EU Plant Health Regulation;

“regulated item” means—

(a)

any plant, plant product or other object to which an EU plant health rule applies, other than any plant, plant product or other object which is part of a controlled consignment; or

(b)

a controlled plant pest.

(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions which are not defined in these Regulations and appear in the EU Plant Health Regulation or the Official Controls Regulation have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have in EU Plant Health Regulation or the Official Controls Regulation (as the case may be).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(2)

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 2 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M5 S.I. 2005/2517; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2012/2707, 2013/755 and 2018/1048.

M6 S.I. 2015/610, amended by S.I. 2017/1220; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

M7 OJ No. L 169, 10.7.2000, p.1, as last amended by Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/523 (OJ No. L 86, 28.3.2019, p.41).

M8 OJ No. L 317, 23.11.2016, p.4, amended by Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L 95, 7.4.2017, p.1).

M9 Available from the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, AGPP-FAO, Viale Delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153, Rome, Italy and at https://www.ippc.int/int.

M10 OJ No. L 95, 7.4.2017, p.1, amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/478 (OJ No. L 82, 25.3.2019, p.4).

M11 OJ No. L 319, 10.12.2019, p.1.

Interpretation: EU instruments relating to plant health E+W

3.—(1) In these Regulations—

“Commission Decision 98/109/EC” means Commission Decision 98/109/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Thrips palmi Karny as regards Thailand M12 ;

“Commission Decision 2002/757/EC” means Commission Decision 2002/757/EC on provisional emergency phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in ‘t Veld sp. nov. M13 ;

“Commission Decision 2004/200/EC” on measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Pepino mosaic virus M14 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision 2011/787/EU” means Commission Implementing Decision 2011/787/EU authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. as regards Egypt M15 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision 2012/138/EU” means Commission Implementing Decision 2012/138/EU as regards emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) M16 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision 2012/270/EU” means Commission Implementing Decision 2012/270/EU as regards emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix papa sp.n., Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) M17 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision 2012/535/EU” means Commission Implementing Decision 2012/535/EU on emergency measures to prevent the spread within the Union of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode) M18 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision 2012/697/EU” means Commission Implementing Decision 2012/697/EU as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the genus Pomacea (Perry) M19 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) M20 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/893” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/893 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) M21 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715 setting out measures in respect of certain fruits originating in certain third countries to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Phyllosticta citricarpa (McAlpine) Van der Aa. M22 ;

F2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638 establishing emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of the harmful organism Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) M23 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1503” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1503 establishing measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Aromia bungii (Faldermann) M24 ;

F3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1739” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1739 establishing emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Rose Rosette Virus M25 ;

“Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/2032” means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/2032 establishing measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O'Donnell (formerly Gibberella circinata) M26 .

[F4 “Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/885” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/885 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Takikawa, Serizawa, Ichikawa, Tsuyumu & Goto;

“Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1191” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1191 establishing measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV);]

(2) References to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation and to the European Union instruments referred to in paragraph (1) are to be construed as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in reg. 3(1) omitted (15.10.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(a)(i)

F3 Words in reg. 3(1) omitted (15.10.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(a)(ii)

F4 Words in reg. 3(1) inserted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(3)(b)

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 3 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M12 OJ No. L 27, 3.2.1998, p.47.

M13 OJ No. L 252, 20.9.2002, p.37, as last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1967 (OJ No. L 303, 10.11.2016, p.21).

M14 OJ No. L 64, 2.3.2004, p.43.

M15 OJ No. L 319, 2.12.2011, p.112.

M16 OJ No. L 64, 3.3.2012, p.38, as amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2014/356/EU (OJ No. L 175, 14.6.2014, p.38).

M17 OJ No. L 132, 23.5.2012, p.18, as last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/5 (OJ No. L 2, 5.1.2018, p.11).

M18 OJ No. L 266, 2.10.2012, p.42, as last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/618 (OJ No. L 102, 23.4.2018, p.17.

M19 OJ No. L 311, 10.11.2012, p.14.

M20 OJ No. L 125, 21.5.2015, p.36, as last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1511 (OJ No. L 255, 11.10.2018, p.16).

M21 OJ No. L 146, 11.6.2015, p.16.

M22 OJ No. L 125, 13.5.2016, p.16, as last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/449 (OJ No. L 77, 20.3.2019, p.76).

M23 OJ No. L 105, 25.4.2018, p.31, as amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1598 (OJ No. L 248, 27.9.2019, p.86).

M24 OJ No. L 254, 10.10.2018, p.9.

M25 OJ No. L 265, 18.10.2019, p.12.

M26 OJ No. L 313, 4.12.2019, p.94.

Measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation E+W

4.—(1) Any reference in the EU Plant Health Regulation to a pest that is subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) includes the following plant pests—

(a) Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix papa. (Orlova-Bienkowskaja), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) or Epitrix tuberis (Gentner);

(b) Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Takikawa, Serizawa, Ichikawa, Tsuyuma & Goto;

(c) Rose rosette virus;

(d) Tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 4 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Article 82 of the EU Plant Health Regulation: meaning of “close proximity” E+W

5.—(1) For the purposes of Article 82 of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the premises of a registered operator are to be regarded as being in “close proximity” to other premises of that operator if any point on the boundary of its operative area, or of any of its operative areas, is within ten miles of any point on the boundary of the operative area, or of any of the operative areas, of the other premises.

(2) In paragraph (1), “operative area”, in relation to the premises of a registered operator, means—

(a) in the case of premises which are used entirely by the registered operator to carry out one or more of the activities mentioned in Article 65(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the area comprising those premises;

(b) in the case of any other premises used by the registered operator to carry out one or more of the activities mentioned in Article 65(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation, an area within the premises which is used by the registered operator to carry out any of those activities.

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 5 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 2 E+W Competent authorities: plant health

Designation of competent authorities E+W

6.—(1) The Forestry Commissioners are designated as the competent authority responsible for the organisation and the performance of official controls and other official activities in England insofar as they relate to—

(a) tree pests, trees or forestry material; or

(b) forestry professional operators.

(2) The Secretary of State is designated as the competent authority responsible for the organisation and the performance of official controls and other official activities in England insofar as they relate to plant pests, plants or non-forestry material or to professional operators, other than forestry professional operators.

(3) In this regulation—

“forestry material” means—

(a)

wood which retains part or all of its natural round surface, with or without bark;

(b)

wood in the form of chips, particles, shavings, sawdust, wood waste or scrap;

(c)

conifer trees over 3m in height;

(d)

bark which has been removed or become detached from, or from part of, a living, felled or fallen tree;

“forestry professional operator” means a professional operator who carries out one or more of the following activities, but no other activities described in Article 2(9) of the EU Plant Health Regulation—

(a)

the introduction of forestry material into England;

(b)

the storage, aggregation or movement of forestry material within England, the movement of forestry material into England from another part of the Union territory or the movement of forestry material from England to another part of the Union territory;

(c)

the export of forestry material from England to a third country;

(d)

the treatment and marking of wood packaging material or forestry material in accordance with Annex 1 to ISPM 15 or the repair of wood packaging material in England;

(e)

the introduction of tree pests into England, the movement of tree pests within England or the holding or multiplication of tree pests in England, for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding;

(f)

the introduction of trees or forestry material into England or the movement of trees or forestry material within England, for use in official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding;

“non-forestry material” means plants, plant products or other objects, other than forestry material;

[F5 “official controls” includes any official controls within the meaning given in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1;]

“tree” means a living tree or shrub, or a living part of a tree or shrub, at any stage of its growth;

“tree pest” means a plant pest which is injurious to trees or wood;

“wood packaging material” means wood or wood products (excluding paper products) used, or intended to be used, for supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity of any kind, including dunnage.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in reg. 6(3) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(2)

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 6 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 3 E+W Official controls on controlled consignments from third countries and other official controls on goods from third countries

Derogations to the requirement to give prior notification in accordance with Article 1(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 E+W

7.—(1) The responsible operator of a controlled consignment which is to be brought into England by air must have notified the appropriate authority of the consignment's expected arrival at least four working hours before its expected arrival in England.

(2) In the case of any controlled consignment which consists, in whole or in part, of unprocessed logs or sawn or chipped wood and is to be brought into England at a point of entry which only has a temporary border control post, the responsible operator must have notified the Forestry Commissioners of the consignment's arrival at least three working days before its expected arrival in England.

(3) Article 1(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 does not apply to any responsible operator of a controlled consignment referred to in paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) In this regulation—

“Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 on prior notification of consignments of certain categories of animals and goods entering the Union M27 ;

“responsible operator”, in relation to a controlled consignment, means an operator who is required to ensure that the consignment is presented for official controls at the border control post of first arrival into the Union in accordance with Article 47(5) of the Official Controls Regulation;

“temporary border control post” means a border control post in England which has been exempted from the obligations in Article 64(3)(a), (c) and (f) of the Official Controls Regulation pursuant to Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1012 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council by derogating from the rules on the designation of control points and from the minimum requirements for border control posts M28 ;

“working day” means any day, other than—

(a)

a Saturday or Sunday;

(b)

Christmas Day or Good Friday; or

(c)

a bank holiday in England under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 M29 ;

“working hour” means a period of one hour during a day which in England is a working day, and “working hours” includes hours during more than one working day.

Commencement Information

I7 Reg. 7 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M27 OJ No. L 165, 21.6.2019, p.8.

M28 OJ No. L 165, 21.6.2019, p.4.

M29 1971 c. 80, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

Suspicion of non-compliance E+W

8.—(1) This regulation applies where a plant health inspector suspects that a controlled consignment or a regulated item is likely to be, or has been, brought into England from a third country in contravention of an EU plant health rule or that any such consignment or item may not otherwise comply with an EU plant health rule.

(2) A plant health inspector must serve a notice on the operator who is responsible for the controlled consignment or regulated item—

(a) placing the consignment or item under official detention; and

(b) prohibiting the entry of the consignment or item into the Union territory,

pending the outcome of official controls to confirm or eliminate the suspicion referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) This regulation applies to any controlled consignment or regulated item whether or not its ultimate destination is in England.

Commencement Information

I8 Reg. 8 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Consignments not correctly presented for official controls E+W

9.  Where a plant health inspector suspects or is aware that a controlled consignment has not been presented for official controls in accordance with Article 47(1) of the Official Controls Regulation, or in accordance with the other requirements referred to in Article 66(6) of that Regulation, the plant health inspector must serve a notice on the operator who is responsible for the consignment recalling the consignment and placing the consignment under official detention.

Commencement Information

I9 Reg. 9 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Official measures in relation to non-compliant consignments or consignments which pose a risk to plant health E+W

10.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) any controlled consignment or regulated item which, in the opinion of a plant health inspector, has been brought into England from a third country in contravention of an EU plant health rule;

(b) any controlled consignment or regulated item which has been brought into England from a third country and which does not otherwise comply with an EU plant health rule; or

(c) any consignment which has been brought into England from a third country and which, in the opinion of a plant health inspector, poses a risk to plant health in England or to any other part of the Union territory.

(2) A plant health inspector must serve a notice on the operator who is responsible for the consignment or item—

(a) placing the consignment or item under official detention; and

(b) setting out the measures which the operator must take in relation to the consignment or item.

Commencement Information

I10 Reg. 10 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Notices under regulation 8, 9 or10 E+W

11.—(1) A notice under regulation 8, 9 or 10 may include any of the following—

(a) the measures that the responsible operator must take in relation to the consignment or item to isolate or quarantine the consignment or item or otherwise deal with the risk to plant health arising from the consignment or item;

(b) where a plant health inspector requires the consignment or item to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of, re-exported or treated, the measures that the responsible operator must take to destroy or otherwise dispose of, re-export or treat the consignment or item;

(c) any other measures which the plant health inspector considers are appropriate in the light of the suspected or known contravention or the risk to plant health in England or to any other part of the Union territory arising from the consignment or item.

(2) In paragraph (1), “responsible operator” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 8, 9 or 10 (as the case may be).

Commencement Information

I11 Reg. 11 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Border control posts: authorisation of inspection centres and commercial storage facilities E+W

12.—(1) The appropriate authority may grant a permit which authorises—

(a) the use of a facility which is located within a border control post as an inspection centre for the purposes of carrying out official controls and other official activities on controlled consignments[F6 , consignments which are subject to a prohibition or restriction by virtue of Part 1 of Schedule 1] and other regulated items on their arrival at the border control post;

(b) the use of commercial storage facilities within the close vicinity of a border control post as a place at which identity checks and physical checks may be performed on controlled consignments[F7 , consignments which are subject to a prohibition or restriction by virtue of Part 1 of Schedule 1] and other regulated items on their arrival at the border control post.

[F8 (1A) In paragraph (1), “official controls” includes any official controls within the meaning given in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1.]

(2) An application for a permit must be made to the appropriate authority by the operator of the facility or commercial storage facilities in the manner and form required by the appropriate authority.

(3) A permit may only be granted under paragraph (1)(a) if the appropriate authority is satisfied that the facility complies with the requirements specified in respect of inspection centres in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1014.

(4) A permit may only be granted under paragraph (1)(b) if the appropriate authority is satisfied that the commercial storage facilities comply with the requirements specified in respect of commercial storage facilities in Article 3(11) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1014.

(5) A permit granted under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) must be in writing and may be granted—

(a) subject to conditions;

(b) for an indefinite period or a specified period.

(6) A permit granted under paragraph (1)(a) or (b) may include provision permitting the appropriate authority to modify, suspend or revoke the permit at any time by notice in writing.

(7) In this regulation, “Regulation (EU) 2019/1014” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1014 to lay down detailed rules on minimum requirements for border control posts, including inspection centres, and for the format, categories and abbreviations to use for listing border control posts and control points M30 .

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in reg. 12(1)(a) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(3)(a)

F7 Words in reg. 12(1)(b) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(3)(a)

F8 Reg. 12(1A) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(3)(b)

Commencement Information

I12 Reg. 12 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M30 OJ No. L 165, 21.6.2019, p.10.

Transitional provision: approved places of inspection E+W

13.—(1) The appropriate authority may during the relevant period authorise—

(a) the transportation of a controlled consignment to an approved place of inspection; and

(b) the performance of identity checks and plant health checks by a plant health inspector at an approved place of inspection.

(2) The operator who is responsible for a controlled consignment that is destined for an approved place of inspection must—

(a) by notice in writing give the appropriate authority the particulars set out in paragraph (3) no later than three working days before the consignment arrives in England;

(b) ensure that the consignment, its packaging and the vehicle in which it is transported are closed or sealed in such a way that there is no risk of the plants, plant products or objects in the consignment causing infestation, infection or contamination or a change occurring in the contents of the consignment; and

(c) ensure that the consignment is accompanied by a plant health movement document.

(3) The particulars are—

(a) the name, address and location of the approved place of inspection to which the consignment is destined;

(b) the scheduled date and time of arrival of the consignment at the place referred to in sub-paragraph (a);

(c) if available, the individual serial number of the plant health movement document in relation to that consignment;

(d) if available, the date and place at which that plant health movement document was drawn up;

(e) the name, address and registration number of the operator; and

(f) the reference number of the phytosanitary certificate or phytosanitary certificate for re-export required in relation to the consignment pursuant to Article 72(1) or 74(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation.

(4) The operator must notify the appropriate authority immediately in writing of any changes to the particulars which the operator has given under paragraph (2)(a).

(5) The notice must be given to the appropriate authority at the address given by the appropriate authority from time to time for the purposes of this regulation.

(6) An appropriate authority may for the purposes of paragraph (1) approve a place to which a controlled consignment may be destined as a place at which identity checks and plant health checks may be performed by a plant health inspector during the relevant period.

(7) An application for approval under paragraph (6) must be made to the appropriate authority in the manner and form required by the appropriate authority.

(8) An approval may be granted subject to conditions, including conditions relating to the storage of controlled consignments, and may be withdrawn at any time if the appropriate authority no longer considers that the place to which the approval relates is suitable for the purpose for which the approval was given.

(9) The appropriate authority may only approve a place as an approved place of inspection if the place has been approved by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for use as a temporary storage facility.

(10) In this regulation—

“approved place of inspection” means a place which was approved as a place of inspection by an appropriate authority under article 17(1) of the 2005 Order or the 2015 Order before the commencement date and which remains approved by virtue of regulation 54(1), or a place approved under paragraph (6);

“plant health movement document” means a document in the form set out in the Annex to Commission Directive 2004/103/EC on identity and plant health checks of plants, plant products or other objects, listed in Part B of Annex V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC, which may be carried out at a place other than the point of entry into the Community or at a place close by and specifying the conditions related to these checks M31 ;

“relevant period” means the period beginning on the commencement date and ending immediately before 14th December 2020;

“temporary storage facility” means a temporary storage facility within the meaning of Article 148 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code M32 ;

“working [F9 day]” has the meaning given in regulation 7(4).

Textual Amendments

F9 Word in reg. 13(10) substituted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(4)

Commencement Information

I13 Reg. 13 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M31 OJ No. L 313, 12.10.2004, p.16.

M32 OJ No. L 269, 10.10.2013, p.1, as last amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/632 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L 111, 25.4.2019, p.54).

PART 4 E+W Official activities to prevent the establishment or spread of plant pests

Introduction E+W

14.—(1) This Part applies if a plant health inspector suspects that a controlled plant pest or prohibited material is present or likely to be present, or becomes aware that a controlled plant pest or prohibited material is present, on any premises in England.

(2) In this Part—

“premises” includes any place, including any land, building, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, hovercraft, freight container, railway wagon, trailer or movable building or structure;

“prohibited material” means—

(a)

a plant, plant product or other object which is carrying, or is infested by or infected with, a controlled plant pest or may be carrying, or be infested by or infected with, a controlled plant pest;

(b)

a plant, plant product or other object the entry of which into the Union territory or England is prohibited under an EU plant health rule [F10 or Part 1 of Schedule 1];

(c)

a plant, plant product or other object the movement of which within the Union territory, or into, within or from England, is prohibited under an EU plant health rule [F11 or Part 2 of Schedule 1].

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in reg. 14(2) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(4)(a)

F11 Words in reg. 14(2) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(4)(b)

Commencement Information

I14 Reg. 14 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Notices in relation to controlled plant pests or prohibited material E+W

15.—(1) A plant health inspector may serve a notice on the appropriate person—

(a) requiring the appropriate person to treat, destroy or otherwise dispose of the controlled plant pest or prohibited material;

(b) prohibiting for the period specified in the notice—

(i) the removal of any controlled plant pest or prohibited material from the premises; or

(ii) any activity which the inspector considers necessary to prohibit in order to prevent the establishment or spread of a controlled plant pest;

(c) requiring the removal of any controlled plant pest or prohibited material from the premises; or

(d) requiring the taking of any other steps, as specified in the notice, which the inspector considers necessary to eradicate the controlled plant pest or prevent its establishment or spread.

(2) If a plant health inspector has reasonable grounds for believing that it is necessary for the purpose of preventing the spread of, or ensuring the eradication of, any controlled plant pest from any premises, the inspector may serve a notice on the occupier imposing any prohibition or requiring any reasonable step to be taken for that purpose.

(3) In paragraph (1), “appropriate person” means—

(a) in the case of premises used by a professional operator, the professional operator;

(b) in the case of any other premises—

(i) the occupier or any other person in charge of the premises;

(ii) any other person who is charge of the controlled plant pest or the prohibited material at those premises.

Commencement Information

I15 Reg. 15 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Action which may be taken by a plant health inspector E+W

16.—(1) A plant health inspector may, on giving reasonable notice, enter any premises and any adjacent premises for the purpose of taking steps to—

(a) eradicate, destroy or otherwise deal with any controlled plant pest;

(b) prevent the spread of any controlled plant pest; or

(c) destroy, treat or otherwise deal with any infected material.

(2) A plant health inspector must, if requested to do so, produce evidence of his or her authority before entering any premises for the purposes specified in paragraph (1).

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any premises which are used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling unless 24 hours' notice has been given to the occupier.

(4) A plant health inspector may be accompanied by such other persons (including representatives of the European Commission) and bring onto the premises such equipment and vehicles as the inspector considers necessary.

(5) A person accompanying a plant health inspector under paragraph (4) may—

(a) remain on the premises and from time to time re-enter the premises without a plant health inspector;

(b) bring onto the premises any equipment or vehicles that the person considers necessary; and

(c) carry out work on the premises in a manner directed by a plant health inspector.

(6) In paragraph (1), “infected material” means—

(a) a plant, plant product or other object which is carrying, or is infested by or infected with, a controlled plant pest or may be carrying, or be infested by or infected with, a controlled plant pest;

(b) a plant, plant product or other object which is not carrying, or is not infested by or infected with, a controlled plant pest but the presence or existence of which may, in the opinion of a plant health inspector, cause a controlled plant pest to spread or be spread.

Commencement Information

I16 Reg. 16 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Establishment of demarcated areas and measures to be taken in those areas E+W

17.—(1) This regulation applies where an appropriate authority has officially confirmed the presence of a controlled plant pest which is not known to be present in England or the presence of a controlled plant pest in an area of England where it was not previously present.

(2) An appropriate authority may by notice—

(a) demarcate an area in relation to the presence of the controlled plant pest for the purpose of eradicating or containing the plant pest;

(b) specify the prohibitions or restrictions which are to apply to the demarcated area for that purpose.

(3) A notice under paragraph (2)—

(a) must be in writing;

(b) must describe the extent of the demarcated area;

(c) must specify the date on which any such prohibitions or restrictions are to commence;

(d) must be published in a manner appropriate to bring it to the attention of the public;

(e) may be amended or revoked, in whole or in part, by further notice.

Commencement Information

I17 Reg. 17 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 5 E+W Temporary national measures relating to plant health

Schedule 1 E+W

18.  Schedule 1 contains additional temporary measures to prevent the entry of certain controlled plant pests into England, or their establishment in, or spread within, England.

Commencement Information

I18 Reg. 18 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 6 E+W Registration, authorisations and certificates relating to plant health

Applications for registration E+W

19.  An application for registration pursuant to Article 66(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation which is to be submitted to an appropriate authority must be submitted in the manner and form required by the appropriate authority.

Commencement Information

I19 Reg. 19 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Other applications E+W

20.—(1) The following applications must be made to the appropriate authority in the manner and form required by the appropriate authority—

(a) an application for a temporary authorisation to permit a relevant activity for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding;

(b) an application for an authorisation referred to in the following provisions of the EU Plant Health Regulation—

(i) Article 64(2);

(ii) Article 89(1); or

(iii) Article 98(1);

(c) an application for the issue of a phytosanitary certificate for export, a phytosanitary certificate for re-export or a pre-export certificate.

(2) In this regulation—

“relevant activity” means an activity which would otherwise be prohibited under the EU Plant Health Regulation, an EU emergency decision or another EU plant health rule involving—

(a)

the introduction of a plant pest or a plant, plant product or other object into England;

(b)

the movement of a plant pest or a plant, plant product or other object within England;

(c)

the holding of a controlled plant pest or a plant, plant product or other object at premises in England; or

(d)

the multiplication of a plant pest at premises in England.

Commencement Information

I20 Reg. 20 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Authorisations for other purposes E+W

21.— [F12 (1) The appropriate authority may grant an authorisation to permit—

(a) the carrying out of any activity specified in a plant health derogation;

(b) the introduction into England, the movement within England, or the holding or multiplication in England, of a potential quarantine plant pest for official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selection or breeding; or

(c) the carrying out of any other activity which requires the approval of the appropriate authority under the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation or these Regulations.]

(2) An application for any such authorisation must be made to the appropriate authority in the manner and form required by the appropriate authority.

[F13 (3) In paragraph (1)—

“plant health derogation” means—

(a)

a derogation from provisions of the EU Plant Health Regulation which is set out in an implementing or delegated act adopted by the European Commission under the EU Plant Health Regulation or the Official Controls Regulation; or

(b)

a derogation in any decision within the meaning of Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which continues to apply for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation on or after the commencement date and allows member States to authorise an activity which would otherwise be prohibited by or under the EU Plant Health Regulation;

“potential quarantine plant pest” means a plant pest which is not a Union quarantine pest, a protected zone quarantine pest or a plant pest subject to any measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation, but which, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, fulfils the criteria set out in Subsection 1 of Section 3 of Annex 1 to that Regulation or may fulfil the criteria in Subsection 2 of that Section.] 

Textual Amendments

F12 Reg. 21(1) substituted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(5)(a)

F13 Reg. 21(3) substituted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(5)(b)

Commencement Information

I21 Reg. 21 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Authorisations granted by an appropriate authority E+W

22.— [F14 (1)] An authorisation granted by an appropriate authority for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation or these Regulations must be in writing and may be granted—

(a) subject to conditions;

(b) for an indefinite period or a specified period.

(2) An authorisation granted by an appropriate authority may permit the appropriate authority to modify, suspend or revoke the authorisation at any time by notice in writing.

Textual Amendments

F14 Reg. 22(1) renumbered (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(6)

Commencement Information

I22 Reg. 22 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 7 E+W Measures relating to certain solanaceous species

Schedule 2 E+W

23.  Schedule 2 contains specific measures relating to certain solanaceous species.

Commencement Information

I23 Reg. 23 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 8 E+W Notification requirements: plant health

Notification requirements in relation to seed potatoes E+W

24.—(1) A professional operator who is bringing any of the following potatoes into England must, at least two days before the expected date of their arrival in England, provide written notification to a plant health inspector of the matters referred to in paragraph (2)—

(a) seed potatoes grown or suspected of having been grown in another member State or in Switzerland; or

(b) potatoes, other than seed potatoes, grown or suspected of having been grown in Poland, Portugal, Romania or Spain.

(2) The matters are—

(a) the expected time and date of their arrival;

(b) their intended use;

(c) their intended destination;

(d) their variety and quantity; and

(e) the identification number of the producer of the potatoes.

(3) In paragraph (1)(b), “Spain” means that part of Spain which is included within the Union territory for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation, other than the Balearic Islands.

Commencement Information

I24 Reg. 24 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Notification requirements in relation to citrus fruits E+W

25.—(1) A professional operator who is introducing notifiable citrus fruits into the Union territory through a border control post in another part of the Union territory must, before their arrival at that border control post, provide written notification to the Secretary of State at the specified address of the matters referred to in paragraph (2).

(2) The matters are—

(a) the expected date of their introduction into the European Union;

(b) the name of the border control post;

(c) their volume;

(d) the identification numbers of their containers;

(e) the names, addresses and the locations of the premises in England at which they are to be processed.

(3) In paragraph (1)—

“notifiable citrus fruits” means fruits of Citrus L., Fortunella Swingle, Poncirus Raf., Microcitrus Swingle, Naringi Adans., or Swinglea Merr., originating in a third country, which are to be industrially processed into juice in England;

“specified address” means the address given by the Secretary of State from time to time for the purposes of this regulation.

Commencement Information

I25 Reg. 25 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Notification requirements in relation to other plants and plant products E+W

26.—(1) A professional operator who is bringing any of the following plants or plant products into England must, before or no later than four days after the date of their arrival in England, provide written notification to an appropriate plant health inspector of the matters referred to in paragraph (2)—

(a) plants of Castanea Mill., Fraxinus L., Olea europaea L., Pinus L., Platanus L., Prunus L., Quercus L. or Ulmus L. intended for planting, which have been grown or are suspected of having been grown in another member State;

(b) plants of Castanea Mill., Fraxinus L., Olea europaea L., Pinus L., Platanus L., Prunus L., Quercus L. or Ulmus L. intended for planting, which have been grown or are suspected of having been grown in Switzerland and to which Article 47(1) of the Official Controls Regulation does not apply; or

(c) solid fuel wood from another member State, or solid fuel wood from a third country to which Article 47(1) of the Official Controls Regulation does not apply.

(2) The matters are—

(a) the expected date of the arrival of the consignment or, if the consignment has arrived in England, the date on which it first arrived in England;

(b) the intended destination of the consignment, or if the consignment has arrived at its intended destination in England, its current location;

(c) the genus, species and quantity of the plants or wood in the consignment;

(d) the country from which the plants or wood have been, or are to be, consigned;

(e) in the case of plants intended for planting, the identification number of the supplier of the plants;

(f) in the case of solid fuel wood—

(i) the address of the consignor; and

(ii) details of any phytosanitary treatments applied to the wood.

(3) In this regulation—

“appropriate plant health inspector” means—

(a)

in the case of plants referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (b), a plant health inspector appointed by the Secretary of State;

(b)

in the case of solid fuel wood referred to in paragraph (1)(c), a plant health inspector appointed by the Forestry Commissioners;

“solid fuel wood” means fuel wood in the form of logs, billets, twigs, faggots or other similar forms.

Commencement Information

I26 Reg. 26 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 9 E+W General powers of plant health inspectors and enforcement

Interpretation E+W

27.—(1) In this Part—

“ISPM 15 mark” means the mark referred to in Article 96(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation, which may be applied to wood packaging material to attest that it has been treated in accordance with Annex 1 to ISPM 15;

“premises” includes any place, including any land, building, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, hovercraft, freight container, railway wagon, trailer or movable building or structure;

“wood packaging material” includes any wood or other object which is required to be treated and marked in accordance with Annex 1 to ISPM 15.

(2) For the purposes of regulations 32 and 33, a person “incorrectly” applies the ISPM 15 mark to wood packaging material if the person applies the mark otherwise than in the manner specified in Article 96(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation, as read with Article 97(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation.

Commencement Information

I27 Reg. 27 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Powers of entry E+W

28.—(1) A plant health inspector may enter any premises at a reasonable time for the purpose of—

(a) performing official controls to verify that—

(i) an operator is complying with the Official Controls Regulation;

(ii) a professional operator is complying with the EU Plant Health Regulation;

(iii) a person is complying with these Regulations; or

(iv) any plants, plant products or other objects which are subject to an EU plant health rule or to the requirements in Schedule 1 comply with that rule or those requirements;

(b) carrying out other official activities which are to be performed by the appropriate authority pursuant to the Official Controls Regulation, the EU Plant Health Regulation or these Regulations;

(c) enforcing the Official Controls Regulation, the EU Plant Health Regulation or these Regulations;

(d) verifying information supplied by a person in connection with an application for registration or for an authorisation or permit granted, or to be granted, under these Regulations;

(e) ascertaining whether a condition of an authorisation or permit granted by an appropriate authority under these Regulations or for the purpose of the EU Plant Health Regulation or the Official Controls Regulation is being or has been complied with.

(2) A plant health inspector must, if requested to do so, produce evidence of his or her authority before entering any premises for the purposes specified in paragraph (1).

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any premises which are used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling unless 24 hours' notice has been given to the occupier.

(4) A plant health inspector who enters premises for a purpose specified in paragraph (1) or under a warrant issued by a justice of the peace may—

(a) examine, photograph or mark any part of the premises, any object on the premises or anything that is attached to or otherwise forms part of the premises;

(b) in the case of premises being used to manufacture wood packaging material, examine or test any treatment facility, machinery, tools or other equipment used for the manufacture of wood packaging material or observe and monitor the manufacture of wood packaging material;

(c) take samples of or from—

(i) any plant pest;

(ii) any plant, plant product or other object; or

(iii) any container, package or item which has been or may have been in contact with a plant pest or plant, plant product or other object;

(d) open any container or package or require the owner or person in charge of any container or package to open the container or package;

(e) inspect or make copies of any documents or records (in whatever form they may be held) relating to the production of, or any activities relating to, any plant, plant product or other object.

(5) A plant health inspector may destroy or otherwise dispose of any sample taken under this regulation when the sample is no longer required.

(6) A plant health inspector may—

(a) be accompanied—

(i) by a representative of the European Commission or an authorised officer of any competent authority designated in the Union territory for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation or the Official Controls Regulation; or

(ii) such other persons as the inspector considers necessary; and

(b) bring onto the premises such equipment and vehicles as the inspector considers necessary.

(7) A plant health inspector who is accompanied by a person mentioned in paragraph (6)(a)(i) may—

(a) show the person any documents or records which are inspected by the inspector under paragraph (4)(e); and

(b) make copies, or require copies to be made, of those documents or records for that person.

(8) A person accompanying a plant health inspector under paragraph (6)(a)(ii) may—

(a) remain on the premises and from time to time re-enter the premises without a plant health inspector;

(b) bring onto the premises any equipment or vehicles that the person considers necessary; and

(c) carry out work on the premises in a manner directed by a plant health inspector.

Commencement Information

I28 Reg. 28 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Right of entry conferred by a warrant issued by a justice of the peace E+W

29.—(1) A justice of the peace may by signed warrant permit an inspector to enter premises under regulation 16(1), 28(1) or 31(1), if necessary by reasonable force, if the justice, on sworn information in writing, is satisfied that—

(a) there are reasonable grounds to enter those premises; and

(b) any of the conditions in paragraph (2) are met.

(2) The conditions are that—

(a) entry to the premises has been, or is likely to be, refused and notice of the intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier;

(b) asking for admission to the premises, or giving notice of the intention to apply for a warrant, would defeat the object of the entry;

(c) entry is required urgently; or

(d) the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent.

(3) A warrant is valid for one month.

(4) An inspector who enters any unoccupied premises must leave them as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as they were before entry.

Commencement Information

I29 Reg. 29 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Information notices E+W

30.—(1) A plant health inspector or any other officer of an appropriate authority may by notice in writing require an appropriate person to give to the inspector or officer, within the time specified in the notice, any information which the person may possess as to—-

(a) the plants grown or products stored at any time on the premises specified in the notice;

(b) any plant pest or plant, plant product or other object referred to in paragraph (4)(b); or

(c) the persons who have had, or are likely to have had, any plant pest or plant, plant product or other object referred to in paragraph (4)(b) in their possession or under their charge.

(2) The time within which the information is required to be given to the inspector or other officer must be reasonable.

(3) An appropriate person must produce for examination by the inspector or other officer any authorisation, official statement, certificate, plant passport, record, invoice or other document relating to a plant pest or any plant, plant product or other object specified in the notice.

(4) In this regulation, “appropriate person” means—

(a) in relation to any premises to be specified in a notice under paragraph (1), a person who is the owner, occupier or other person in charge of the premises;

(b) a person who has, has had, or is reasonably suspected by the inspector or officer to have or have had, possession or charge of—

(i) a controlled plant pest;

(ii) any plant, plant product or other object which was carrying a controlled plant pest or which was infested by or infected with a controlled plant pest; or

(iii) any plant, plant product or other object which the inspector or officer knows or suspects to have been imported into or exported from England; or

(c) a person who, as auctioneer, salesman or otherwise, has sold, offered for sale or otherwise disposed of a controlled plant pest.

Commencement Information

I30 Reg. 30 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Failure to comply with a notice E+W

31.—(1) If a person fails to comply with a notice served on that person under these Regulations, a plant health inspector may enter any affected premises at all reasonable times to take or cause to be taken any steps that the plant health inspector considers necessary to ensure compliance with the notice or to remedy the consequences of the failure to carry them out.

(2) A plant health inspector acting under paragraph (1) must, if requested to do so, show evidence of authority to act.

[F15 (3) Paragraph (1) does not apply—

(a) to any premises which are used wholly or mainly as a private dwelling unless 24 hours' notice has been given to the occupier; or

(b) in relation to any notice served under Schedule 4A.]

(4) A plant health inspector may be accompanied by such other persons (including representatives of the European Commission) and bring onto the premises such equipment and vehicles as the inspector considers necessary.

(5) A person accompanying a plant health inspector under paragraph (4) may—

(a) remain on the premises and from time to time re-enter the premises without a plant health inspector;

(b) bring onto the premises any equipment or vehicles that the person considers necessary; and

(c) carry out work on the premises in a manner directed by a plant health inspector.

Textual Amendments

F15 Reg. 31(3) substituted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(2)

Commencement Information

I31 Reg. 31 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Removal of ISPM 15 mark from wood packaging material E+W

32.  Where an inspector knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, that the ISPM 15 mark has been incorrectly applied to wood packaging material, a plant health inspector may remove the mark or, by notice in writing, require another person to remove it.

Commencement Information

I32 Reg. 32 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marking of wood packaging material: power of seizure E+W

33.—(1) This regulation applies where a plant health inspector knows, or has reasonable grounds for suspecting, that a person has incorrectly applied, or intends to incorrectly apply, the ISPM 15 mark to wood packaging material at any premises in England.

(2) The plant health inspector may seize and detain from that person or from those premises any stencil, template or other item of equipment that appears to the inspector to be capable of being used to apply the ISPM 15 mark.

(3) If, in the opinion of the plant health inspector, it is not for the time being practicable for the inspector to seize and remove any item, the inspector may require any person on the premises to secure that the item is not removed or otherwise interfered with until such time as the inspector may seize and remove it.

(4) The plant health inspector must make reasonable efforts to give written notice to the appropriate person—

(a) stating what has been seized and the reason for its seizure;

(b) explaining the effect of paragraphs (5) to (12).

(5) Any item seized under paragraph (2) may be retained by the Forestry Commissioners for as long as is necessary in all the cirumstances, and in particular for the purposes of proceedings in relation to an offence specified in regulation 38(1).

(6) The Forestry Commissioners may apply to the magistrate's court for the forfeiture of any item retained under paragraph (5).

(7) Where an application is made under paragraph (6), the court may order the item to be forfeited if the court is satisfied that—

(a) an offence specified in regulation 38(1) has been committed in respect of it; or

(b) it was used in the commission of such an offence.

(8) If the court orders the item to be forfeited, the Forestry Commissioners may dispose of it in whatever way they think appropriate.

(9) If the court does not order the item to be forfeited, it must order the item to be returned to the appropriate person.

(10) The Forestry Commissioners may recover from the appropriate person all reasonable costs incurred by the Forestry Commissioners for the purposes of securing the forfeiture of an item under paragraphs (6) to (8).

(11) Where the retention of any item has been, but is no longer, authorised under this regulation—

(a) the item must be returned to the appropriate person;

(b) the appropriate person may apply to the magistrate's court for an order that the item be returned.

(12) Where the item is required to be returned to the appropriate person and reasonable efforts have been made, without success, to return the item to that person, the Forestry Commissioners may dispose of the item in whatever way they think appropriate.

(13) In this regulation—

“appropriate person” means—

(a)

in the case of an item seized from a person, the person from whom the item was seized;

(b)

in the case of an item seized from premises, the occupier or any other person in charge of the premises;

(c)

in the case of an item seized from a person or premises which does not belong to a person falling within paragraph (a) or (b), the person to whom it belongs and who asserts ownership over it.

(14) Nothing in this regulation affects the powers of a plant health inspector under regulation 32.

Commencement Information

I33 Reg. 33 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Disclosure of information held by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs E+W

34.—(1) The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may disclose any information in their possession to an appropriate authority for the purposes of enabling or assisting the appropriate authority to carry out any function conferred on it under or by virtue of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation or these Regulations.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) affects any other power or requirement of the Commissioners to disclose information.

Commencement Information

I34 Reg. 34 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Disclosure of information to other competent authorities E+W

35.—(1) The Secretary of State and the Forestry Commissioners may disclose information—

(a) to each other for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation or these Regulations; or

(b) to any other competent authority in another part of the Union territory for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation or the Official Controls Regulation.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) affects any other power or requirement of the Secretary of State or the Forestry Commissioners to disclose information.

Commencement Information

I35 Reg. 35 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 10 E+W General and supplemental provisions relating to plant health notices

Miscellaneous provisions as to notices E+W

36.—(1) This regulation applies to any notice given by a plant health inspector under these Regulations, other than a notice given under regulation 33(4) [F16 or Schedule 4A].

(2) The notice may—

(a) specify—

(i) one or more requirements or alternative requirements;

(ii) the manner in which and the period in which any requirement or condition specified in the notice must be carried out or fulfilled; or

(b) require the owner or any other person who appears to be in charge of the premises to which the notice relates to—

(i) notify the appropriate authority of any change in occupation of the premises, the date of the change and the name of the new occupier; and

(ii) inform the new occupier of the premises of the contents of the notice.

(3) Any destruction, disposal, re-export or treatment of a plant, plant product or other object or a plant pest which is required to be carried out under the notice must be carried out, or arranged to be carried out, to the satisfaction of a plant health inspector by the person on whom the notice has been served from or at the place specified in the notice.

(4) A plant health inspector may amend or withdraw the notice by a further notice.

(5) The notice may define by reference to a map or plan or otherwise the extent of the premises referred to in the notice.

Textual Amendments

F16 Words in reg. 36(1) inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(3)

Commencement Information

I36 Reg. 36 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Service of notices E+W

37.—(1) A notice may be served on a registered operator by—

(a) delivering it personally;

(b) leaving it at, or sending it by post to, the contact address of the registered operator; or

(c) sending it to the email address that the operator has given to the appropriate authority for the service of notices.

(2) A notice may be served on any other person by—

(a) delivering it personally; or

(b) leaving it at, or sending it by post to, the person's last known place of abode or business; or

(c) sending it to any email address that the person has given to the appropriate authority for the service of notices.

(3) If a notice is to be given by a plant health inspector [F17 or the appropriate authority] to an occupier or other person in charge of premises and the last known place of abode or address of that person cannot be ascertained after reasonable enquiry, the notice may be served on that person by addressing it to “the occupier” and leaving it conspicuously affixed to an object on the premises for a period of seven days.

(4) A notice may—

(a) in the case of a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership), be served on the secretary or clerk of that body at the address of the registered or principal office of that body;

(b) in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership, but including a Scottish partnership), be served on a partner or a person having the control or management of the partnership business at the address of the principal office of the partnership; or

(c) in the case of a limited liability partnership, be served on a member of the partnership at the address of the registered or principal office of the partnership.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4), the principal office of a company registered outside the United Kingdom or a partnership carrying on business outside the United Kingdom is its principal office within the United Kingdom.

(6) In this regulation—

“notice” means a notice to be given by a plant health inspector [F18 or the appropriate authority] under these Regulations;

“contact address”, in relation to a registered operator, means—

(a)

the operator's principal address in the register; or

(b)

any other postal address in England that the operator has given to the appropriate authority as a contact address for the service of notices.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in reg. 37(3) inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(4)(a)

F18 Words in reg. 37(6) inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(4)(b)

Commencement Information

I37 Reg. 37 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 11 E+W Offences relating to plant health legislation

General E+W

38.—(1) A person commits an offence if the person contravenes or fails to comply with—

(a) regulation 24(1), 25(1) or 26(1);

(b) paragraph [F19 2(1), 2A(1), 2B(1), 2C(2), 2D(2), 2E(1), 2F(3), 3A, 4(1), 7(2) or (4) or 11(1)] of Schedule 1;

(c) paragraphs 2(1) or (2), 3(1) or (2), 6(1) or (2), 12(1), 13(1), 14(1), 15(1), 16, 21(1), 22(7), 23(2), 28(1), 29(7), 30(2) or 32(2) of Schedule 2;

(d) a provision of the EU Plant Health Regulation specified in Part 1 of Schedule 3;

(e) a provision of the Official Controls Regulation specified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 (insofar as it applies to plants, plant products or other objects which are subject to an EU plant health rule);

(f) a provision of any other EU legislation specified in Part 3 of Schedule 3;

(g) a provision of an EU emergency decision specified in Schedule 4.

(2) But paragraph (1) does not apply to anything done under, or in accordance with—

(a) an authorisation or permit which is granted under these Regulations or has effect under or by virtue of these Regulations;

(b) an approval granted under regulation 13(6) or an approval referred to in regulation 54(1);

(c) a notice which is given by a plant health inspector or an appropriate authority under these Regulations, or has effect under or by virtue of these Regulations.

Textual Amendments

F19 Words in reg. 38(1)(b) substituted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(5)

Commencement Information

I38 Reg. 38 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Failure to comply with requirements of notices etc. E+W

39.— [F20 (1)] A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with—

(a) a provision or condition of a notice which has been served on the person under these Regulations or has effect under or by virtue of these Regulations;

(b) a provision or condition of an authorisation or permit which has been granted to the person under these Regulations or has effect under or by virtue of these Regulations; or

(c) a provision or condition of a direction given under these Regulations.

[F21 (2) Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply in relation to any notice served under Schedule 4A.]

Textual Amendments

F20 Reg. 39(1) renumbered (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(5)(a)

F21 Reg. 39(2) inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(5)(b)

Commencement Information

I39 Reg. 39 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Defence: reasonable excuse E+W

40.  It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under regulation 38 or 39 to show that the person had a reasonable excuse for contravening or failing to comply with the prohibition or requirement in question.

Commencement Information

I40 Reg. 40 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Provision of false or misleading information E+W

41.  A person commits an offence if, for the purposes of obtaining an authorisation or a permit or procuring the issue of a plant passport or certificate, the person—

(a) knowingly or recklessly makes a statement or representation which is false in a material particular;

(b) knowingly or recklessly furnishes a document or information which is false in a material particular; or

(c) intentionally fails to disclose any material information.

Commencement Information

I41 Reg. 41 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Improper use of plant passports or certificates E+W

42.—(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) dishonestly issues a plant passport or a certificate;

(b) dishonestly alters a plant passport or a certificate; or

(c) dishonestly re-uses a plant passport or a certificate.

(2) In paragraph (1), “certificate” means a phytosanitary certificate for export, a phytosanitary certificate for re-export or a pre-export certificate.

Commencement Information

I42 Reg. 42 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Obstruction E+W

43.—(1) A person commits an offence if the person—

(a) intentionally obstructs a plant health inspector or an authorised person acting in the execution or enforcement of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation or these Regulations;

(b) without reasonable excuse, fails to give to a plant health inspector or an authorised person any assistance or information which the inspector or authorised person may reasonably require for those purposes; or

(c) fails to produce a document or record when required to do so by an appropriate authority or a plant health inspector acting in the execution or enforcement of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation or these Regulations.

(2) In paragraph (1), “authorised person” means a person authorised by an appropriate authority.

Commencement Information

I43 Reg. 43 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Offence relating to the disclosure of information held by Revenue and Customs E+W

44.  A person commits an offence if the person discloses any information received from the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs under regulation 34(1) and—

(a) the information relates to a person whose identity is specified in the disclosure or can be deduced from the disclosure;

(b) the disclosure is for a purpose other than specified in regulation 34(1), and

(c) the Commissioners have not given their prior consent to the disclosure.

Commencement Information

I44 Reg. 44 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Defence: lawful disclosure E+W

45.  It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under regulation 44 to prove that the person reasonably believed that—

(a) the disclosure was lawful; or

(b) the information had previously been made available lawfully.

Commencement Information

I45 Reg. 45 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Offences by bodies corporate E+W

46.—(1) Where an offence under this Part [F22 or paragraph 22 of Schedule 4A (failure to comply with a stop notice)] has been committed by a body corporate and the offence is proved—

(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer, or

(b) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of an officer,

the officer, as well as the body corporate, is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) In paragraph (1), “officer”, in relation to a body corporate, means—

(a) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body; or

(b) a person purporting to act in any such capacity.

(3) If the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member's functions of management as it applies to an officer of a body corporate.

Textual Amendments

F22 Words in reg. 46(1) inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(6)

Commencement Information

I46 Reg. 46 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Offences by partnerships and unincorporated associations E+W

47.—(1) Proceedings for an offence under this Part [F23 or paragraph 22 of Schedule 4A (failure to comply with a stop notice)] alleged to have been committed by a partnership or an unincorporated association must be brought against the partnership or association in the name of the partnership or association.

(2) For the purposes of such proceedings—

(a) rules of court relating to the service of documents have effect as if the partnership or unincorporated association were a body corporate; and

(b) section 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 (procedure on charge of offence against corporation) M33 and Schedule 3 to the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (corporations) M34 apply in relation to the partnership or association as they apply in relation to a body corporate.

(3) A fine imposed on a partnership or unincorporated association on its conviction of an offence under this Part is to be paid out of the funds of the partnership or association.

(4) If an offence under this Part committed by a partnership is proved—

(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner, or

(b) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a partner,

the partner, as well as the partnership, is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(5) In paragraph (4), “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner.

(6) If an offence under this Part committed by an unincorporated association (other than a partnership) is proved—

(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer of the association, or

(b) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of such an officer,

the officer, as well as the association, is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(7) In paragraph (6), “officer”, in relation to an unincorporated association, means—

(a) an officer of the association or a member of its governing body; or

(b) a person purporting to act in such a capacity.

Textual Amendments

F23 Words in reg. 47(1) inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(7)

Commencement Information

I47 Reg. 47 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M33 1925 c. 86; section 33 was repealed in part by Schedule 6 to the Magistrates Courts Act 1952 (c. 55), and amended by paragraph 19 of Schedule 8 to the Courts Act 1971 (c. 23) and paragraph 71 of Schedule 8, and Schedule 10, to the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39) (subject to savings specified in S.I. 2004/2066).

M34 1980 c. 43; Schedule 3 was amended by Schedule 13 to the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53) and paragraph 51 of Schedule 3, and Part 4 of Schedule 37 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44).

Penalties E+W

48.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 38(1), 39, 41, 42 or 43 is liable on summary conviction to a fine.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 44 is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, to a fine or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both.

Commencement Information

I48 Reg. 48 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

[F24 PART 11A E+W Civil Sanctions

Textual Amendments

F24 Pt. 11A inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), regs. 1, 2(8)

Civil sanctions E+W

48A.   Schedule 4A (which provides for civil sanctions) has effect.]

PART 12 E+W Miscellaneous: plant health

Minor and consequential amendments E+W

49.  Schedule 5 contains minor and consequential amendments to secondary legislation relating to the marketing of seeds and plant propagating material and plant health fees.

Commencement Information

I49 Reg. 49 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Revocation of plant health instruments E+W

50.  The instruments listed in Schedule 6 are revoked.

Commencement Information

I50 Reg. 50 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Transitional provisions: licences under article 39(1) of the 2005 Order or article 41(1) of the 2015 Order E+W

51.—(1) Any licence granted by the Forestry Commissioners under article 39(1) of the 2005 Order or by the Secretary of State under article 41(1) of the 2015 Order, which is in force immediately before the commencement date, has effect during the relevant period as if it had been granted by the appropriate authority in accordance with Article 5 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/829 on the date on which it was granted under the 2005 Order or the 2015 Order.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) affects anything carried out prior to the commencement date under, or for the purposes of, the licence.

(3) Any reference in the licence to the 2005 Order, the 2015 Order, Council Directive 2000/29/EC or Commission Directive 2008/61/EC is to be read as a reference to the corresponding provision in or under the EU Plant Health Regulation or these Regulations.

(4) In this regulation—

“Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/829” means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/829 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants, authorising Member States to provide for temporary derogations in view of official testing, scientific or educational purposes, trials, varietal selections, or breeding M35 ;

“Commission Directive 2008/61/EC” means Commission Directive 2008/61/EC establishing the conditions under which certain harmful organisms, plants, plant products and other objects listed in Annexes I to V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC may be introduced into or moved within the Community or certain protected zones thereof, for trial or scientific purposes and for work on varietal selections M36 ;

“relevant period”, in relation to a licence, means—

(a)

if the licence expires on or after 31st December 2020, the period beginning on the commencement date and ending on 31st December 2020; or

(b)

if the licence expires before 31st December 2020, the period beginning with the commencement date and ending on the date of expiry of the licence specified in the licence.

Commencement Information

I51 Reg. 51 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M35 OJ No. L 137, 23.5.2019, p.15.

M36 OJ No. L 158, 18.6.2008, p.41.

Transitional provisions: other licences under the 2005 Order or the 2015 Order E+W

52.—(1) Any licence granted by the Forestry Commissioners under article 38(1)(a) of the 2005 Order or by the Secretary of State under article 40(1)(a) of the 2015 Order and which has effect on the commencement date remains in force as if it were an authorisation granted by the appropriate authority under regulation 21(2)(a) on the date on which the licence was granted under the 2005 Order or the 2015 Order.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) affects anything carried out before the commencement date under, or for the purposes of, the licence.

(3) Any reference in the licence to the 2005 Order, the 2015 Order or Council Directive 2000/29/EC is to be read as a reference to the corresponding provision in or under the EU Plant Health Regulation or these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I52 Reg. 52 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Transitional provisions: notices E+W

53.—(1) Any notice given under the 2005 Order, the Plant Health (Wood Packaging Material Marking) (Forestry) Order 2006 M37 or the 2015 Order and which has effect on the commencement date—

(a) remains in force and continues to have effect as if it were given under these Regulations for an equivalent purpose on the date on which it was given under the 2005 Order, the Plant Health (Wood Packaging Material Marking) (Forestry) Order 2006 or the 2015 Order (as the case may be); and

(b) is to be read with such modifications as are necessary for it to do so.

(2) In paragraph (1), the reference to any notice under the 2005 Order, the Plant Health (Wood Packaging Material Marking) (Forestry) Order 2006 or the 2015 Order includes any official approval given for the purposes of the notice.

Commencement Information

I53 Reg. 53 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M37 S.I. 2006/2695, amended by S.I. 2013/755 (W. 90), 2019/734.

Transitional provisions: approvals granted under article 17(1) of the 2005 Order or the 2015 Order E+W

54.—(1) Any approval granted by the Forestry Commissioners under article 17(1) of the 2005 Order or by the Secretary of State under article 17(1) of the 2015 Order which is in force immediately before the commencement date remains in force and continues to have effect during the relevant period.

(2) In paragraph (1), “relevant period”, in relation to an approval granted under 17(1) of the 2005 Order or the 2015 Order, means—

(a) if the approval expires on or after 13th December 2020, the period beginning on the commencement date and ending on 13th December 2020; or

(b) if the approval expires before 13th December 2020, the period beginning on the commencement date and ending on the date of expiry of the approval specified in the approval.

Commencement Information

I54 Reg. 54 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 13 E+W Official controls in relation to genetically modified organisms

Amendment to secondary legislation on official controls in relation to genetically modified organisms E+W

55.  In regulation 2(1) of the Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health Fees etc.) Regulations 2019 M38 , in the definition of “relevant legislation”, for “sub-paragraphs (a), (c) to (e), (f)” substitute “ sub-paragraphs (a) to (f) ”.

Commencement Information

I55 Reg. 55 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M38 S.I. 2019/1488.

PART 14 E+W Review

Review E+W

56.—(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in these Regulations; and

(b) publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2) The first report must be published before 14th December 2024.

(3) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

(4) Section 30(3) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 M39 requires that a review carried out under this regulation must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how the EU Plant Health Regulation and the Official Controls Regulation are implemented in other member States.

(5) Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a report published under this regulation must, in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a);

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved;

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate; and

(d) if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous regulatory provision.

(6) In this article, “regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 33 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).

Commencement Information

I56 Reg. 56 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M39 2015 c. 26; section 30(3) was amended by section 19 of the Enterprise Act 2016 (c. 12) and paragraph 36 of Schedule 8 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16).

George Eustice

Minister of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Regulation 18

SCHEDULE 1 E+W Temporary national measures

Interpretation E+W

[F25 1.   In this Schedule—

“controlled material” means any plant, plant product or other object of a description specified in paragraph 2(1), 2A(1), 2B(1), 2C(2), 2D(2) or 2E(1);

“in transit”, in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment or controlled material, means a Schedule 1 consignment or controlled material which—

(a)

is being moved through England under customs supervision on its journey from one third country to another third country; or

(b)

is being moved through England on its journey from one part of the Union territory to another part of the Union territory, and has passed or is passing through the territory of a third country during that journey;

“introduce” means introduce into England from a third country or another part of the Union territory, and “introduction” is to be construed accordingly;

“IPPC” means the International Plant Protection Convention 1951;

“ISPM 4” means International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 4 of November 1995 on the requirements for the establishment of pest free areas, prepared by the Secretariat of the IPPC established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations;

“phytosanitary certificate” means—

(a)

in the case of any plant, plant product or other object that must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate pursuant to Article 72, 73 or 74 of the EU Plant Health Regulation and paragraph 2A(1), 2B(1), 2C(2) or 2E(1), a phytosanitary certificate which complies with the requirements in Article 71(1) and (2) of the EU Plant Health Regulation as modified by paragraph 2A(2), 2C(3) or 2E(2) (as the case may be);

(b)

in the case of any other plant, plant product or other object that must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate pursuant to paragraph 2C(2), a phytosanitary certificate for export in the form set out in Part A of Annex 5 to the EU Plant Health Regulation, or a phytosanitary certificate for re-export in the form set out in Part B of Annex 5 to that Regulation, which—

(i)

complies with the requirements specified in Article 76(2) of the EU Plant Health Regulation; and

(ii)

has been issued by the national plant protection organisation of the country of export or re-export in accordance with the provisions of Article 5(2) of the IPPC;

“Schedule 1 consignment” means a consignment which contains controlled material, including any controlled material for non-commercial use;

“transhipment”, in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment or controlled material, means its arrival in England by sea or air from a third country, and its movement under customs supervision from the vessel or aircraft of arrival to another vessel or aircraft in the same port or airport in preparation for onward travel, and “transhipped” is to be construed accordingly;

“transit declaration”, in relation to any controlled material, means a signed declaration of the professional operator who is in control of the controlled material stating that the controlled material is in transit or for transhipment.]

Textual Amendments

F25 Sch. 1 para. 1 substituted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(a)

PART 1 E+W Plants, plant products or other objects from third countries

[F26 Temporary measures in relation to Ceratocystis platani (J.M. Walter) Engelbr. & T.C. Harr.] E+W

2.—(1) No person may introduce any used machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes and exported from Switzerland unless the machinery or vehicles—

(a) have been exported from an area established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Ceratocystis platani (J.M. Walter) Engelbr. & T.C. Harr.; or

(b) in the case of any machinery or vehicles exported from an area infested with Ceratocystis platani (J.M. Walter) Engelbr. & T.C. Harr., they have been cleaned and were free from soil and plant debris prior to being moved out of the area.

[F27 (1A) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to paragraph 2F(1).]

F28 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F27 Sch. 1 para. 2(1A) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(ii)(aa)

F28 Sch. 1 para. 2(2) omitted (21.4.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(ii)(bb)

Commencement Information

I57 Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

[F29 2A.— (1) No person may introduce any plants described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A1 unless they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate which includes an official statement confirming the matters set out in the corresponding entry in column (4) of that table.

(2) None of the requirements specified in point 39 of Annex 7 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation are to be treated for the purposes of Articles 41(1) and 71(1)(c) of the EU Plant Health Regulation as applying to the introduction of any plants described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A1.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to paragraph 2F(1).

Table A1

(1)	(2) Description of plants	(3) CN code	(4) Details of official statement
(1) The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”.
1.	Plants intended for planting, other than seeds, of Platanus L., originating in Albania, Armenia, Switzerland, Turkey or the USA	ex 0602 10 90 ex 0602 20 20 ex 0602 20 80 ex 0602 90 41 ex 0602 90 45 ex 0602 90 46 ex 0602 90 48 ex 0602 90 50 ex 0602 90 70 ex 0602 90 99	The official statement must confirm that the plants have been grown throughout their life in an area established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Ceratocystis platani (J.M. Walter) Engelbr. & T.C. Harr.

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 1 paras. 2A-2F inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(iii)

Temporary measures in relation to Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi E+W

2B.— (1) No person may introduce any plants intended for planting, other than seeds, of Ulmus L. which originate in Canada or the USA unless they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate which includes an official statement confirming that no symptoms of Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi have been observed at the place of production of the plants or in the immediate vicinity of the place of production since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetation.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to paragraph 2F(1).

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 1 paras. 2A-2F inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(iii)

Temporary measures in relation to Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire E+W

2C.— (1) This paragraph applies to plants, plant products or other objects described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A2 in so far as they are not subject to the prohibition on the introduction into the Union territory of high-risk plants, plant products or other objects that applies by virtue of Article 42(2) of the EU Plant Health Regulation.

(2) No person may introduce any plants, plant products or other objects described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A2 unless they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate which includes an official statement confirming —

(a) the matters set out in the corresponding entry in column (4) of that table; and

(b) in the case of any plants, plant products or other objects which are not subject to Article 72, 73 or 74 of the EU Plant Health Regulation, that the plants, plant products or other objects are free from Union quarantine pests and pests subject to any measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of that Regulation.

(3) None of the requirements specified in points 36 and 87 to 89 of Annex 7 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation are to be treated for the purposes of Articles 41(1) and 71(1)(c) of the EU Plant Health Regulation as applying to the introduction of any plants, plant products or other objects described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A2 where they originate in Canada, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Taiwan or the USA.

(4) Sub-paragraph (2) is subject to paragraph 2F(1).

Table A2

(1)	(2) Description of plants, plant products or other objects	(3) CN code	(4) Details of official statement
(1) The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”.
(2) “wood packaging material” means wood in the form of packing cases, boxes, crates, drums or similar packings, pallets, box pallets or other load boards, pallet collars or dunnage, whether or not actually in use in the transport of objects of any kind.
1.	Plants, other than fruit or seeds, of Fraxinus L., Juglans ailantifolia Carr., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Ulmus davidiana Planch. or Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold & Zucc., originating in Belarus, Canada, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine or the USA	ex 0602 10 90 ex 0602 20 20 ex 0602 20 80 ex 0602 90 41 ex 0602 90 45 ex 0602 90 46 ex 0602 90 48 ex 0602 90 50 ex 0602 90 70 ex 0602 90 99 ex 0604 20 90 ex 1404 90 00	The official statement must confirm that the plants originate in an area established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire and that no part of the area lies within 100km of a known outbreak of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. A phytosanitary certificate may not include any such official statement unless the national plant protection organisation of the country of origin has previously provided the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom with written details of the area or areas.
2.	Wood of Fraxinus L., Juglans ailantifolia Carr., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Ulmus davidiana Planch. or Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold & Zucc., other than in the form of: —chips, particles, sawdust, shavings, wood waste or scrap, obtained in whole or in part from these trees, or —wood packaging material, except dunnage which is supporting the wood in the consignment and which is constructed from wood of the same type and quality as that wood and meets the requirements in column (4), but including wood which has not kept its natural round surface, furniture or other objects made of untreated wood, originating in Belarus, Canada, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine or the USA	ex 4401 12 00 ex 4403 12 00 ex 4403 99 00 ex 4404 20 00 ex 4406 12 00 ex 4406 92 00 4407 95 10 4407 95 91 4407 95 99 ex 4407 99 27 ex 4407 99 40 ex 4407 99 90 ex 4408 90 15 ex 4408 90 35 ex 4408 90 85 ex 4408 90 95 ex 4416 00 00 ex 9406 10 00	The official statement must confirm: (a) that the wood has undergone ionizing irradiation to achieve a minimum absorbed dose of 1kGy throughout the wood; or (b) that the wood originates in an area established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire and that no part of the area lies within 100km of a known outbreak of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. A phytosanitary certificate may not include the official statement referred to in paragraph (b) unless the national plant protection organisation of the country of origin has previously provided the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom with written details of the area or areas.
3.	Wood in the form of chips, particles, sawdust, shavings, wood waste or scrap obtained in whole or in part from Fraxinus L., Juglans ailantifolia Carr., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Ulmus davidiana Planch. or Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold & Zucc., originating in Belarus, Canada, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine or the USA	ex 4401 22 00 ex 4401 40 10 ex 4401 40 90	The official statement must confirm that the wood originates in an area established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire and that no part of the area lies within 100km of a known outbreak of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. A phytosanitary certificate may not include any such official statement unless the national plant protection organisation of the country of origin has previously provided the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom with written details of the area or areas.
4.	Isolated bark or objects made out of bark of Fraxinus L., Juglans ailantifolia Carr., Juglans mandshurica Maxim., Ulmus davidiana Planch. or Pterocarya rhoifolia Siebold & Zucc., originating in Belarus, Canada, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine or the USA	ex 1404 90 00 ex 4401 40 90	The official statement must confirm that the bark originates in an area established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire and that no part of the area lies within 100km of a known outbreak of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. A phytosanitary certificate may not include any such official statement unless the national plant protection organisation of the country of origin has previously provided the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom with written details of the area or areas.

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 1 paras. 2A-2F inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(iii)

National measures in relation to Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) E+W

2D.— (1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies to any plants that are not subject to the prohibition in Article 15 of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789.

(2) No person may introduce any plants, other than fruit or seeds, of Coffea or Polygala myrtifolia L. which originate in any third country.

(3) Sub-paragraph (2) is subject to paragraph 2F(1).

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 1 paras. 2A-2F inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(iii)

2E.— (1) No person may introduce any plants described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A3 unless—

(a) they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate which includes an official statement confirming the matters set out in the corresponding entry in column (4) of that table; and

(b) in the case of any plants described in columns (2) and (3) of that table in respect of entry 1, they are individually labelled with a tamper-proof label which includes details of their place of production.

(2) None of the requirements in Articles 16 and 17 of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 are to be treated for the purposes of Article 71(1)(d) of the EU Plant Health Regulation as applying to the introduction of any plants described in columns (2) and (3) of Table A3.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1) is subject to paragraph 2F(1).

Table A3

(1)	(2) Description of plants	(3) CN code	(4) Details of official statement
(1) Details of the place(s) of production must also be included in the official statement.
1.	Plants intended for planting, other than fruit or seeds, of Olea europaea L. or Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, originating in any third country	ex 0602 1090 ex 0602 2020 ex 0602 2080 ex 0602 9041 ex 0602 9045 ex 0602 9046 ex 0602 9047 ex 0602 9048 ex 0602 9050 ex 0602 9070 ex 0602 9091 ex 0602 9099	The official statement must confirm: (a) that the plants have been grown in a place of production which has been registered and supervised by the national plant protection organisation for a period of at least one year prior to the export of the plants; (b) that the place of production, together with a 200m zone surrounding the place of production, is known to be free from Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) on the basis of official inspections, which included testing where appropriate, and were carried out at appropriate times during the 12 months prior to the export of the plants; (c) that the plants have been subjected to an annual official inspection at an appropriate time which included sampling and testing that confirmed the absence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and was carried out in accordance with international standards using a sampling scheme able to identify with 99% reliability a level of presence of infected plants of 1%; (d) that, immediately prior to their export, the plants were subjected to an official visual inspection for the presence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and, where any symptoms giving rise to a suspicion of its presence were observed, were tested in line with international standards for its presence, confirming its absence; and (e) where the place of production of the plants is located in an area where Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is known to occur, that the plants have been grown under complete physical protection for a period of at least four years prior to their export or, in the case of plants which are younger than four years, throughout their life. A phytosanitary certificate may not include any such official statement unless the national plant protection organisation of the country of origin has previously provided the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom with written details of the place(s) of production.
2.	Plants intended for planting, other than seeds, of Lavandula L., Nerium oleander L. or Rosmarinus officinalis L., originating in any third country		The official statement must confirm: (a) in the case of plants, other than unrooted cuttings: (i) that the plants have been grown in a place of production which has been registered and supervised by the national plant protection organisation for a period of at least one year prior to the export of the plants; (ii) that the place of production, together with a 200m zone surrounding the place of production, is known to be free from Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) on the basis of official inspections, which included testing, where appropriate, that was carried out at appropriate times; (iii) that the plants have been subjected to an annual official inspection at an appropriate time, which included sampling and testing that confirmed the absence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and was carried out in accordance with international standards using a sampling scheme able to identify with 99% reliability a level of presence of infected plants of 5%; (iv) that, immediately prior to their export, the plants were subjected to an official visual inspection for the presence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and, where any symptoms giving rise to a suspicion of its presence were observed, were tested in line with international standards for its presence, confirming its absence; (v) where there has been any evidence of the presence of the vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) at the place of production, that chemical and cultural controls have been used to suppress the vector; and (vi) where the place of production is located in an area where Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is known to occur, that: (aa) the plants have been grown throughout their life under complete physical protection; and (bb) appropriate hygiene measures have been implemented at the place of production to ensure that Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is not transmitted by tools or equipment; (b) in the case of unrooted cuttings, that they derive from mother plants which were grown in accordance with the requirements specified in paragraph (a)(i) to (vi). A phytosanitary certificate may not include any such official statement unless the national plant protection organisation of the country of origin has previously provided the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom with written details of the place(s) of production.

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 1 paras. 2A-2F inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(iii)

Exception for controlled material in transit E+W

2F.— (1) Paragraphs 2(1), 2A(1), 2B(1), 2C(2), 2D(2) and 2E(1) do not apply to the introduction of any controlled material from a third country if the controlled material is in transit when it arrives in England, or is to be transhipped on its arrival in England, and the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are met.

(2) The conditions are that the controlled material is—

(a) accompanied by a transit declaration; and

(b) packed and introduced in such a way that there is no risk of any Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests or pests subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation being spread on its introduction.

(3) No person may move any controlled material in transit through England unless it is—

(a) accompanied by a transit declaration; and

(b) packed and transported in such a way that there is no risk of any Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests or pests subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation being spread on its movement through England.]

Textual Amendments

F29 Sch. 1 paras. 2A-2F inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(6)(b)(iii)

PART 2 E+W Plants, plant products or other objects from another part of the Union territory

Temporary measures applying to the introduction of plants, plant products or other objects from another part of the Union territory E+W

3.  In this Part—

“move” means move within England;

“official statement” means a statement issued by, or under the supervision of, an authorised representative of the competent authority in the member State of origin;

“Spain” means that part of Spain which is included within the Union territory for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation, other than the Balearic Islands.

Commencement Information

I58 Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

[F30 3A.   No person may introduce any plants, other than fruit or seeds, of Coffea or Polygala myrtifolia L. which originate in any part of the Union territory, other than the United Kingdom.]

Textual Amendments

F30 Sch. 1 para. 3A inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(7)(a)

4.— [F31 (1))] No person may introduce or move any plants, plant products or other objects described in column 2 of Table 1 unless [F32 that person is a registered operator and the plants, plant products or other objects] are accompanied by an official statement confirming the matters set out in the corresponding entry in column 3 of that Table [F33 and, in the case of any plants described in column (2) of that table in respect of entry 5, they are individually labelled with a tamper-proof label which contains details of their place of production]. E+W

[F34 (2) None of the requirements specified in point 17 of Annex 8 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation are to be treated for the purposes of Articles 41(1) and 85(c) of the EU Plant Health Regulation as applying to the introduction or movement of any plants described in column (2) of Table 1 in respect of entry 3.

(3) None of the requirements in Articles 9 and 9a of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 are to be treated for the purposes of Article 85(d) of the EU Plant Health Regulation as applying to the introduction or movement of any plants described in column (2) of Table 1 in respect of entries 5 and 6.]

Table 1

(1)	(2)Description of plants, plant products or other objects	(3)Details of official statement
1.	Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., including those intended for planting which originate in Spain except where those tubers originate in an area which has been established in accordance with Article 5 of Decision 2012/270/EU	The official statement must confirm that the tubers have been washed so that there is no more than 0.1% of soil remaining
2.	Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Poland	The official statement must confirm that the tubers have been found free from Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. Sepedonicus (Spieckermann and Kotthoff) David et al. in laboratory tests
[F35 3.	Plants intended for planting, other than seeds, of Platanus L., originating in any part of the Union territory, other than the United Kingdom	The official statement must confirm that the plants have been grown throughout their life in an area(1) established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM 4 as an area that is free from Ceratocystis platani (J.M. Walter) Engelbr. & T.C. Harr.
4.	Plants intended for planting, other than seeds, of Ulmus L., originating in any part of the Union territory, other than the United Kingdom	The official statement must confirm that no symptoms of Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi have been observed at the place of production of the plants or in the immediate vicinity of the place of production since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetation.
5.	Plants intended for planting, other than fruit or seeds, of Olea europaea L. or Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb, originating in any part of the Union territory, other than the United Kingdom	The official statement must confirm: (a) that the plants have been grown in a place of production(2) which (i) has been registered and supervised by the relevant competent authority in the member State of origin for a period of at least one year prior to the movement of the plants from the place of production; and (ii) has previously been notified by the competent authority to the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom; (b) that the place of production, together with a 200m zone surrounding the place of production, is known to be free from Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) on the basis of official inspections, which included testing, where appropriate, and were carried out at appropriate times during the 12 months prior to the movement of the plants from the place of production; (c) that the plants have been subjected to an annual official inspection at an appropriate time, which included sampling and testing that confirmed the absence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and was carried out in accordance with international standards using a sampling scheme able to identify with 99% reliability a level of presence of infected plants of 1%; (d) that, immediately prior to their movement from the place of production, the plants were subjected to an official visual inspection for the presence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and, where any symptoms giving rise to a suspicion of its presence were observed, were tested in line with international standards for its presence, confirming its absence; and (e) where the place of production of the plants is located in an area where Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is known to occur, that the plants have been grown under complete physical protection for a period of at least four years prior to their movement from the place of production or, in the case of plants which are younger than four years, throughout their life.
6.	Plants intended for planting, other than seeds, of Lavandula L., Nerium oleander L. or Rosmarinus officinalis L., originating in any part of the Union territory, other than the United Kingdom	The official statement must confirm: (a) in the case of plants, other than unrooted cuttings: (i) that the plants have been grown in a place of production which (aa) has been registered and supervised by the relevant competent authority in the member State of origin for a period of at least one year prior to the movement of the plants from the place of production; and (bb) has previously been notified by the competent authority to the national plant protection organisation of the United Kingdom; (ii) that the place of production, together with a 200m zone surrounding the place of production, is known to be free from Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) on the basis of official inspections, which included testing, where appropriate, that was carried out at appropriate times; (iii) that the plants have been subjected to an annual official inspection at an appropriate time, which included sampling and testing that confirmed the absence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and was carried out in accordance with international standards using a sampling scheme able to identify with 99% reliability a level of presence of infected plants of 5%; (iv) that, immediately prior to their movement from the place of production, the plants were subjected to an official visual inspection for the presence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and, where any symptoms giving rise to a suspicion of its presence were observed, were tested in line with international standards for its presence, confirming its absence; (v) where there has been any evidence of the presence of the vector of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) at the place of production, that chemical and cultural controls have been used to suppress the vector; and (vi) where the place of production is located in an area where Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is known to occur, that: (aa) the plants have been grown throughout their life under complete physical protection; and (bb) appropriate hygiene measures have been implemented at the place of production to ensure that Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) is not transmitted by tools or equipment; (b) in the case of unrooted cuttings, that they derive from mother plants which have been grown in accordance with the requirements specified in paragraph (a)(i) to (vi).]

(1) The name of the area(s) must be included in the official statement.

(2) Details of the place(s) of production must also be included in the official statement.

Textual Amendments

F31 Sch. 1 para. 4(1) renumbered (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(7)(b)(i)

F32 Words in Sch. 1 para. 4(1) substituted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(7)(b)(ii)(aa)

F33 Words in Sch. 1 para. 4(1) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(7)(b)(ii)(bb)

F34 Sch. 1 para. 4(2)(3) inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(7)(b)(iii)

F35 Words in Sch. 1 para. 4 inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(7)(c)

Commencement Information

I59 Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

[F36 PART 3 E+W Official controls on consignments from third countries

Textual Amendments

F36 Sch. 1 Pt. 3 inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(8)

5.— (1) In this Part— E+W

“border control post” means a border control post in England which has been designated pursuant to Article 59(1) of the Official Controls Regulation for the purposes of the rules referred to in Article 1(2)(g) of that Regulation;

“documentary check”, in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment, means an examination of the phytosanitary certificate or transit declaration which is required to accompany the consignment on its introduction from a third country pursuant to Part 1;

“domestic import rule” means any prohibition, restriction or requirement in respect of the introduction of controlled material which applies by virtue of Part 1;

“identity check”, in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment, means a visual inspection of the controlled material in the consignment to verify that its contents correspond to the information provided in the phytosanitary certificate or transit declaration accompanying the consignment;

“official controls” means activities performed by an appropriate authority or a plant health inspector pursuant to this Part to verify that the controlled material in a Schedule 1 consignment complies with the domestic import rules relating to the material and that the operator of the consignment complies with this Part;

“operator”, in relation to a consignment, means the importer of the consignment, or the person, acting on behalf of the importer, who is in charge of the consignment when presented at the border control post of first arrival in England and makes the necessary declarations to the appropriate authority;

“physical check”, in relation to the controlled material in a Schedule 1 consignment, means any check on that material, the packaging of the consignment or its means of transport which, in the opinion of a plant health inspector, is necessary to verify that the controlled material complies with the domestic import rules relating to that material;

“plant health entry document” has the meaning given in paragraph 7(1);

“responsible operator”, in relation to a consignment, means the operator who is responsible for that consignment.

(2) Where any controlled material is required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate pursuant to Part 1, any reference in this Part to the controlled material complying with the domestic import rules relating to that material is to be construed as including its compliance with the matters certified in the official statement that has been included in the phytosanitary certificate in respect of the controlled material.

Application of this Part E+W

6.— (1) This Part applies to a Schedule 1 consignment which is to be, or is, brought into the Union territory from a third country where its point of first arrival into the Union territory is in England.

(2) But it does not apply to—

(a) any Schedule 1 consignment which forms part of the personal luggage of a passenger where the controlled material in the consignment is intended for personal consumption or use and does not include any plants for planting; or

(b) any small Schedule 1 consignment addressed to a natural person which is not intended to be placed on the market and does not include any plants for planting.

(3) Where a Schedule 1 consignment contains any plant, plant product or other object which is not controlled material, and Article 47(1) of the Official Controls Regulation applies in relation to that plant, plant product or other object, this Part applies only for the purposes of the performance of official controls on the controlled material in the consignment.

Notification and presentation of Schedule 1 consignments E+W

7.— (1) A “plant health entry document” is an entry document, in the form required by an appropriate authority, to be used—

(a) for the prior notification of the arrival of a Schedule 1 consignment at a border control post in England; and

(b) for the purposes of recording the outcome of official controls on the consignment and any decisions taken by a plant health inspector in relation to the consignment under this Part.

(2) The operator responsible for a Schedule 1 consignment must complete the relevant part of a plant health entry document and submit the completed part to the appropriate authority—

(a) in the case of a consignment which is to be brought in by air, at least four working hours before its expected arrival in England;

(b) in the case of a consignment which consists in whole or in part of unprocessed logs or sawn or chipped wood and is to be brought into a point of entry which only has a temporary border control post, at least three working days before its expected arrival in England;

(c) in the case of any other consignment, at least one working day before its expected arrival in England.

(3) In the case of a Schedule 1 consignment which is intended to be transhipped, the appropriate authority may by notice in writing require the responsible operator to provide it, by the time or date specified in the notice, with the information set out in the notice in relation to the proposed transhipment.

(4) The operator responsible for a Schedule 1 consignment must arrange for the consignment, together with the phytosanitary certificate or transit declaration accompanying the consignment, to be presented to the appropriate authority at the border control post of first arrival.

(5) In sub-paragraph (2)—

“temporary border control post” means a border control post which has been exempted from the obligations in Article 64(3)(a), (c) and (f) of the Official Controls Regulation pursuant to Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1012 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council by derogating from the rules on the designation of control points and from the minimum requirements for border control posts;

“working day” and “working hour” have the same meanings as in regulation 7(4).

Consignments not correctly presented for official controls E+W

8.   Where a plant health inspector suspects or is aware that a consignment which has arrived at a border control post in England is a Schedule 1 consignment and the operator responsible for that consignment has not presented the consignment to the appropriate authority in accordance with paragraph 7(4), the plant health inspector must serve a notice on the operator recalling the consignment and placing the consignment under official detention.

Official controls to be performed on Schedule 1 consignments E+W

9.— (1) The appropriate authority must perform official controls on a Schedule 1 consignment at the border control post of arrival.

(2) Any documentary check, identity check or physical check in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment must be performed by a plant health inspector.

(3) In the case of a Schedule 1 consignment which is in transit, a plant health inspector may require the following official controls to be carried out before authorising any onward transit of the consignment—

(a) a documentary check of the transit declaration and an examination of any other official documents accompanying the consignment;

(b) a physical check of the consignment’s packaging and means of transport to verify that there is no risk of any Union quarantine pests, protected zone quarantine pests or pests subject to the measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) of the EU Plant Health Regulation being spread whilst in transit through the Union territory.

(4) In the case of a Schedule 1 consignment which is being transhipped and remains, or is to remain, at the border control post of arrival for longer than the transhipment period, a plant health inspector may require the following official controls to be carried out—

(a) a documentary check of the transit declaration and an examination of any other official documents accompanying the consignment;

(b) an identity check or plant health check in relation to the consignment.

(5) In the case of any other Schedule 1 consignment, a plant health inspector must carry out a documentary check, identity check and a physical check.

(6) Any documentary check, identity check or physical check which is carried out in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment must, so far as possible, be carried out by a plant health inspector in the same manner as the inspector would carry out the check if the consignment were a consignment of plants, plant products or other objects referred to in Article 47(1)(c) of the Official Controls Regulation.

(7) Where a plant health inspector suspects that a Schedule 1 consignment is likely to be, or has been, brought into England from a third country in contravention of a domestic import rule or that any controlled material in the consignment may not otherwise comply with a domestic import rule relating to the controlled material in the consignment, the plant health inspector must serve a notice on the responsible operator—

(a) placing the consignment under official detention, and

(b) prohibiting the entry of the consignment into England,

pending the outcome of any additional official controls on the consignment which the inspector considers are necessary to confirm or to eliminate that suspicion.

(8) In sub-paragraph (4), “transhipment period” means—

(a) in relation to an airport, three days or more;

(b) in relation to a port, 30 days or more.

Completion of official controls E+W

10.   Following the completion of official controls on a Schedule 1 consignment, a plant health inspector must—

(a) decide whether the controlled material in the consignment complies with the domestic import rules relating to that material and, where relevant, indicate the applicable customs procedure for the consignment;

(b) finalise the plant health entry document for that consignment; and

(c) where the finalised plant health entry document authorises the placing and handling of the consignment under a relevant customs procedure and the consignment was accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, provide the responsible operator with an authenticated copy of the phytosanitary certificate or, if the consignment is to be split, with authenticated copies of the phytosanitary certificate for each part of the split consignment.

Removal of Schedule 1 consignments from border control posts of arrival E+W

11.— (1) No person may remove a Schedule 1 consignment from its border control post of arrival or split the consignment unless—

(a) the finalised plant health entry document for that consignment authorises the placing and handling of the consignment under a relevant customs procedure and, following the presentation of the finalised plant health entry document to HMRC, HMRC has authorised the placing of the consignment under a customs procedure; or

(b) a plant health inspector has served a notice on the person pursuant to paragraph 12 or 13 authorising its removal from that border control post.

(2) HMRC may not authorise the placing of any Schedule 1 consignment under a customs procedure which is different from the one indicated by the appropriate authority in the finalised plant health entry document for that consignment.

(3) Where a customs declaration is made for a Schedule 1 consignment and the finalised plant health entry document for that consignment is not presented to HMRC, HMRC must detain the Schedule 1 consignment and immediately notify the appropriate authority.

(4) Where a Schedule 1 consignment is permitted to leave its border control post pursuant to sub-paragraph (1), a plant health inspector may by notice in writing specify which documents (if any) must accompany the consignment to its place of destination.

(5) In this paragraph, “HMRC” means Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Measures to be taken on non-compliant Schedule 1 consignments E+W

12.— (1) Where a plant health inspector is of the opinion that a Schedule 1 consignment has been brought into England in contravention of a domestic import rule or that it does not otherwise comply with a domestic import rule relating to the controlled material in the consignment, the plant health inspector must—

(a) place the consignment under official detention and refuse its entry into England;

(b) where it is not necessary to take action immediately to respond to the risk to plant health posed by the consignment, consult the responsible operator in relation to the measures to be taken to deal with the non-compliance;

(c) without delay, serve a notice on the responsible operator ordering the operator to—

(i) destroy the consignment or, where appropriate, particular lots in the consignment;

(ii) re-dispatch the consignment to a third country;

(iii) treat the controlled material in the consignment in a manner that ensures that the risk to plant health arising from the controlled material is eliminated and that it otherwise complies with the domestic import rules relating to the controlled material; or

(iv) take any other measures which are necessary to ensure that the domestic import rules relating to the controlled material in the consignment are met; and

(d) invalidate the phytosanitary certificate or transit declaration accompanying the consignment (as the case may be).

(2) A plant health inspector may only serve a notice pursuant to sub-paragraph (1)(c) ordering the operator responsible for the consignment to re-dispatch the consignment to a third country if the proposed destination has been agreed with the operator.

(3) The operator responsible for a Schedule 1 consignment which is detained pursuant to this paragraph must store the consignment and take the measures specified in the notice served pursuant to sub-paragraph (1)(c) at the operator’s own expense.

Measures to be taken on Schedule 1 consignments E+W

13.— (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) the official controls carried out by a plant health inspector pursuant to this Part indicate that the controlled material in a Schedule 1 consignment complies with the domestic import rules relating to that material;

(b) although the controlled material in the consignment complies, or appears to comply, with those domestic import rules, the inspector is of the opinion that the consignment poses a risk to plant health in England or to any other part of the Union territory; and

(b) Article 67 of the Official Controls Regulation does not apply to the consignment.

(2) The plant health inspector must—

(a) place the consignment under official detention and ensure that the consignment is isolated or quarantined;

(b) without delay, serve a notice on the responsible operator ordering the operator to—

(i) destroy the consignment; or

(ii) treat the controlled material in the consignment in a manner that ensures that the risk to plant health arising from the controlled material is eliminated and that it otherwise complies with the domestic import rules or any EU plant health rules relating to the controlled material; and

(c) invalidate the phytosanitary certificate or transit declaration accompanying the consignment (as the case may be).

Notification of decisions to refuse the entry of a Schedule 1 consignment into England E+W

14.   The appropriate authority must ensure that any decision by a plant health inspector to refuse a Schedule 1 consignment entry into England is immediately notified in writing to—

(a) the Commission;

(b) the competent authorities of other member States;

(c) the national plant protection organisation of the third country of origin; and

(d) the responsible operator.

Notices under this Part E+W

15.   A notice in relation to a Schedule 1 consignment under this Part may include any of the following—

(a) the measures that the responsible operator must take to isolate or quarantine the consignment or otherwise deal with the risk to plant health arising from the consignment;

(b) where a plant health inspector requires the consignment to be destroyed or otherwise disposed of, re-exported or treated, the measures that the responsible operator must take to destroy or otherwise dispose of, re-export or treat the consignment;

(c) any other measures which the plant health inspector considers are appropriate in the light of the suspected or known contravention or the risk to plant health in England or to any other part of the Union territory arising from the consignment.]

Regulation 23

SCHEDULE 2 E+W

PART 1 E+W General interpretation

1.  In this Schedule— E+W

“Directive 93/85/EEC” means Council Directive 93/85/EEC on the control of potato ring rot M40 ;

“Directive 98/57/EC” means Council Directive 98/57/EC on the control of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. M41 ;

“Directive 2007/33/EC” means Council Directive 2007/33/EC on the control of potato cyst nematodes M42 ;

“premises” includes any place, including any land, building, vehicle, vessel, aircraft, hovercraft, freight container, railway wagon, trailer or movable building or structure;

“potato” means any tuber or true seed or any other plant of Solanum tuberosum L. or other tuber-forming species of the genus Solanum L.;

“Potato brown rot” means either the disease of potatoes caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. or that bacterium, as the context requires;

“Potato ring rot” means either the disease of potatoes which is caused by the bacterium Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. spp. Sependonicus (Spieckermann and Kotthof) Davis et al. or that bacterium, as the context requires;

“Seed Potatoes Regulations” means the Seed Potatoes (England) Regulations 2015 M43 .

Commencement Information

I60 Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M40 OJ No. L 259, 18.10.1993, p.1, as amended by Commission Directive 2006/56/EC (OJ No. L 182, 4.7.2006, p.1). It is repealed from 1st January 2022 (see Article 113(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 (OJ No. L 317, 23.11.2016, p.4)

M41 OJ No. L 235, 21.8.1998, p.1, as amended by Commission Directive 2006/63/EC (OJ No. L 206, 27.7.2006, p.36). It is repealed from 1st January 2022 (see Article 113(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031).

M42 OJ No. L 156, 16.6.2007, p.12. It is repealed from 1st January 2022 (see Article 113(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031).

M43 S.I. 2015/1953.

PART 2 E+W General provisions relating to the planting of certain solanaceous species

General restrictions on the planting of potatoes E+W

2.—(1) A person must not knowingly plant, or knowingly cause or permit to be planted—

(a) any potatoes which have been grown in a third country, other than Switzerland; or

(b) any potatoes produced from those potatoes.

(2) A person must not knowingly plant, or knowingly cause or permit to be planted, any potatoes unless—

(a) they derive in direct line from potato material which has been obtained under an officially approved programme in the European Union or Switzerland;

(b) they have been found to be free from Potato ring rot in official tests using the methods set out in Annex 1 to Directive 93/85/EEC; and

(c) they have been found to be free from Potato brown rot in official tests using the methods set out in Annex 2 to Directive 98/57/EC.

Commencement Information

I61 Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Restrictions on the planting of potatoes in the protected region E+W

3.—(1) A person must not knowingly plant, or knowingly cause or permit to be planted, any potatoes in the protected region other than—

(a) potatoes which may be marketed in the protected region under the Seed Potatoes Regulations; or

(b) one year's direct progeny of the potatoes referred to in paragraph (a), where that direct progeny has been grown by that person.

(2) Any person who is involved in the planting of potatoes in the protected region must retain and make available to a plant health inspector the following documents in relation to the potatoes—

(a) their official labels;

(b) the invoices and delivery notes for the potatoes;

(c) in the case of potatoes marketed or marketable under the Seed Potatoes Regulations or potatoes which are their direct progeny and have been produced by the certificate holder, the certificate of classification.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply where—

(a) the area to be planted is less than 0.1 of a hectare; or

(b) the area is intended for the production of early potatoes.

[F37 (3A) In sub-paragraphs (1) and (2), “protected region” has the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Seed Potatoes (England) Regulations 2015.]

(4) In sub-paragraph (3)(b), “early potatoes” means potatoes which are harvested before they are completely mature and marketed immediately after they have been harvested, and the skins of which can be easily removed without peeling.

Textual Amendments

F37 Sch. 2 para. 3(3A) inserted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(7)(a)

Commencement Information

I62 Sch. 2 para. 3 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 3 E+W Measures for the control of Potato wart disease

Interpretation E+W

4.—F38 (...) In this Part—

(a) “Potato wart disease” means either the disease of potatoes which is caused by the fungus Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilbersky) Percival or that fungus, as the context requires;

(b) a plot of land is to be regarded as a contaminated plot if Potato wart disease is confirmed by an official test to be present on at least one plant that is growing or was grown on that plot.

Textual Amendments

F38 Sch. 2 para. 4 renumbered (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(7)(b)(i)

Commencement Information

I63 Sch. 2 para. 4 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Official measures relating to contaminated plots of land E+W

5.—(1) A plant health inspector must demarcate any contaminated plot and a safety zone around that plot which is large enough to ensure the protection of the surrounding area.

(2) A plant health inspector must serve a notice under regulation 15(1) requiring any potato tubers or haulms which are present on the contaminated plot, or which come from the contaminated plot, to be treated in such a way that the Potato wart disease present on them is destroyed.

(3) Where a plant health inspector is satisfied that any potato tubers or haulms are contaminated with Potato wart disease and the inspector cannot determine whether those tubers or haulms have been present on a contaminated plot, the inspector may serve a notice under regulation 15(1) which requires the whole batch containing the affected tubers or haulms to be treated in such a way that there is no risk of Potato wart disease spreading.

Commencement Information

I64 Sch. 2 para. 5 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Prohibition on the planting of potatoes on contaminated plots E+W

6.—(1) Where a contaminated plot is demarcated under paragraph 5(1), no person may—

(a) grow any potatoes on the plot; or

(b) grow or store on the plot any plants intended for transplanting.

(2) No person may grow potatoes in a safety zone demarcated under paragraph 5(1) unless a plant health inspector is satisfied that they are of a variety which is resistant to the races of Potato wart disease found on the contaminated plot to which the safety zone relates.

(3) A potato variety is to be considered resistant to a particular race of Potato wart disease for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) where that variety reacts to contamination by the pathogenic agent of that race in such a way that there is no danger of secondary infection.

Commencement Information

I65 Sch. 2 para. 6 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Revocation of the demarcation of a contaminated plot E+W

7.  Where a plant health inspector is satisfied that Potato wart disease is no longer present on a plot which was demarcated under paragraph 5(1) or on its associated safety zone, the inspector must revoke that demarcation.

Commencement Information

I66 Sch. 2 para. 7 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 4 E+W Measures for the control of European populations of Potato cyst nematode

Interpretation E+W

8.  In this Part—

“field” means an area which has been demarcated as a field for the purposes of Article 3 of Directive 2007/33/EC;

“host plants” means plants with roots of Capsicum spp., Solanum lycopersicum L. or Solanum melongena L.;

“infested field” means a field which is recorded as infested pursuant to paragraph 10(1);

“notice” means a notice under regulation 15(1);

“Potato cyst nematode” means any cyst-forming nematode of the species Globodera pallida (Stone) Behrens or Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens that infests and multiplies on potatoes, including any strain or pathotype of any such nematode;

“susceptible bulbs” means bulbs, tubers or rhizomes, grown in soil and intended for planting, of Allium ascalonicum L., Allium cepa L., Dahlia spp., Gladiolus Tourn. Ex L., Hyacinthus spp., Iris spp., Lilium spp., Narcissus L. or Tulipa L., other than those for which there is evidence by their packaging or by other means that they are intended for sale to final consumers not involved in professional plant or cut flower production;

“susceptible material” means host plants, susceptible bulbs or susceptible plants;

“susceptible plants” means plants with roots of Allium porrum L., Asparagus officinalis L., Beta vulgaris L., Brassica spp. or Fragaria L.

Commencement Information

I67 Sch. 2 para. 8 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Official investigations and surveys E+W

9.—F39 (...) The Secretary of State must ensure that—

(a) official investigations are carried out in accordance with Articles 4 and 5 of Directive 2007/33/EC for the presence of Potato cyst nematodes in fields in which seed potatoes or susceptible material intended for the production of plants for planting are to be planted or stored; and

(b) official surveys are carried out in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 2007/33/EC for the presence of Potato cyst nematodes in fields used for the production of potatoes, other than those intended for the production of seed potatoes.

Textual Amendments

F39 Sch. 2 para. 9 renumbered (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(7)(b)(Ii)

Commencement Information

I68 Sch. 2 para. 9 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Official records of investigations and surveys E+W

10.—(1) The Secretary of State must ensure that the results of each official investigation or official survey carried out pursuant to paragraph 9 are recorded to indicate whether Potato cyst nematodes were found in the fields during the investigation or survey.

(2) Where the officially approved measures set out in Section 3(C) of Annex 3 to Directive 2007/33/EC have been taken in a field which has been recorded as infested pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) and, following the completion of those measures, it is officially confirmed that Potato cyst nematodes are no longer present in the field, the Secretary of State must ensure that the record is updated accordingly.

Commencement Information

I69 Sch. 2 para. 10 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Notices in relation to infested fields and contaminated susceptible material E+W

11.—(1) A plant health inspector must serve a notice in writing on the occupier or other person in charge of an infested field which specifies the boundaries of the infested field.

(2) The notice may not be withdrawn until it is confirmed, in accordance with paragraph 10(2), that Potato cyst nematode is no longer present in the field.

(3) A plant health inspector must by notice designate as contaminated any susceptible material which comes from a field that has been officially recorded as infested under paragraph 10(1) or any susceptible material which has been in contact with soil in which Potato cyst nematodes have been found.

Commencement Information

I70 Sch. 2 para. 11 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Prohibition on the planting of potatoes in infested fields E+W

12.—(1) Unless authorised to do so by an inspector, no person may—

(a) plant any potatoes that are intended for the production of seed potatoes in an infested field; or

(b) plant or store any susceptible material which is intended for planting in an infested field.

(2) A plant health inspector may authorise the planting of susceptible bulbs or susceptible plants in an infested field.

(3) An authorisation under sub-paragraph (2) must be by notice and must contain the measures set out in Section 3(A) of Annex 3 to Directive 2007/33/EC.

Commencement Information

I71 Sch. 2 para. 12 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Suppression of Potato cyst nematodes E+W

13.—(1) No person may plant any potatoes that are not intended for the production of seed potatoes in an infested field unless authorised to do so by a plant health inspector.

(2) An authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) must be by notice and may only be given if the inspector is satisfied that all reasonable steps to suppress Potato cyst nematodes in the field have been taken in accordance with the official control programme adopted by the Secretary of State for the suppression of Potato cyst nematodes.

Commencement Information

I72 Sch. 2 para. 13 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Controls on contaminated seed potatoes etc. E+W

14.—(1) No person may plant any seed potatoes or any host plants which have been designated as contaminated pursuant to paragraph 11(3), unless authorised to do so by an inspector.

(2) An authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) must be by notice and must contain the measures which the inspector considers necessary to decontaminate those seed potatoes or host plants.

Commencement Information

I73 Sch. 2 para. 14 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Controls on potatoes for industrial processing or grading E+W

15.—(1) No person may move any potatoes which have been designated as contaminated pursuant to paragraph 11(3) and are intended for industrial processing or grading, unless authorised to do so by an inspector.

(2) An authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) must be by notice and must require the potatoes to be delivered to a processing or grading plant that has appropriate and officially approved waste disposal procedures that ensure that there is no risk of Potato cyst nematodes spreading.

Commencement Information

I74 Sch. 2 para. 15 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Controls on contaminated bulbs etc. E+W

16.  No person may plant any susceptible bulbs or susceptible plants which have been designated as contaminated pursuant to paragraph 11(3), unless they have been subject to the measures set out in Section 3(A) of Annex 3 to Directive 2007/33/EC and an inspector has confirmed by notice that they are no longer contaminated.

Commencement Information

I75 Sch. 2 para. 16 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Further investigations for the presence of Potato cyst nematodes E+W

17.  If any suspected occurrence or confirmed presence of Potato cyst nematodes in England results from a breakdown or change in the effectiveness of a resistant potato variety which relates to an exceptional change in the composition of nematode species, pathotype or virulence group, the Secretary of State must ensure that the species of Potato cyst nematode and, where applicable, the pathotype and virulence group involved are investigated and confirmed by appropriate methods.

Commencement Information

I76 Sch. 2 para. 17 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 5 E+W Measures for the control of Potato ring rot

Interpretation E+W

18.  In this Part—

“certified seed potatoes” means pre-basic seed potatoes, basic seed potatoes or certified seed potatoes within the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Seed Potatoes Regulations;

“contaminated” means designated by a plant health inspector as contaminated for the purposes of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 93/85/EEC;

“first growing year”, in the case of measures to be taken in relation to a contaminated place of production, means the first growing year following the growing year in which the place of production is designated as contaminated for the purposes of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 93/85/EEC;

“notice”, in relation to a notice to be given by a plant health inspector, means a notice under regulation 15(1);

“object” means any item of machinery, vehicle, vessel, store or other object, including packaging material;

“possibly contaminated” means determined by a plant health inspector to be possibly contaminated for the purposes of Article 5(1)(b) of Directive 93/85/EEC;

“susceptible material” means tubers or plants of Solanum tuberosum L.;

“zone” means any area, including any individual premises.

Commencement Information

I77 Sch. 2 para. 18 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Official surveys and testing E+W

19.—(1) The Secretary of State must ensure that systematic official surveys for Potato ring rot are carried out in England on tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. and, where appropriate, on plants of Solanum tuberosum L., in accordance with Article 2(1) of Directive 93/85/EEC.

(2) Where the presence of Potato ring rot in susceptible material is suspected, the Secretary of State must ensure that—

(a) official testing is carried out using the method set out in Annex 1 to Directive 93/85/EEC and in accordance with the conditions specified in point 1 of Annex 2 to Directive 93/85/EEC to confirm whether or not it is present;

(b) the following are retained and appropriately conserved pending completion of the official testing—

(i) all tubers sampled, and wherever possible, all plants sampled;

(ii) any remaining extract and additional preparation material for the screening tests;

(iii) all relevant documentation; and

(c) pending the confirmation of its presence or the refutation of its suspected presence, where suspect diagnostic visual symptoms of Potato ring rot have been seen or symptoms of Potato ring rot have been identified by a positive immunofluorescence test or other appropriate positive test—

(i) the movement of all lots or consignments from which the samples have been taken, other than those which are under official control, is prohibited, except where it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of Potato ring rot spreading;

(ii) steps are taken to trace the origin of the suspected occurrence; and

(iii) additional appropriate precautionary measures based on the level of estimated risk are taken to prevent any spread of the plant pest.

(3) A notice may contain measures for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(c)(i) to (iii).

Commencement Information

I78 Sch. 2 para. 19 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Measures to be taken following the confirmation of the presence of Potato ring rot E+W

20.—(1) If the presence of Potato ring rot is confirmed in a sample of susceptible material following official testing carried out pursuant to paragraph 19(2)(a) or sub-paragraph (2), the Secretary of State must ensure that—

(a) the susceptible material, the consignment or lot and any object from which the sample was taken and, where appropriate, the place of production and field from which the susceptible material was harvested are designated as contaminated by a plant health inspector;

(b) a plant health inspector determines the extent of the probable contamination through pre- or post-harvest contact or through any production link with anything designated as contaminated under paragraph (a), taking into account the matters set out in point 1 of Annex 3 to Directive 93/85/EEC;

(c) a zone is demarcated by a plant health inspector on the basis of the designation made under paragraph (a), taking into account the matters set out in point 2 of Annex 3 to Directive 93/85/EEC.

(2) Where susceptible material has been designated as contaminated under sub-paragraph (1)(a), the Secretary of State must ensure that testing is carried out on potato stocks which are clonally related to that susceptible material in the manner specified in paragraph 19(2)(a) in order to determine the probable primary source of infection and the extent of the probable contamination.

(3) Any such testing must be carried out on as much susceptible material as is necessary to determine the probable primary source of infection and the extent of the probable contamination.

(4) Any designation by a plant health inspector under this paragraph must be made by notice.

(5) Where any susceptible material or object is determined by a plant health inspector under sub-paragraph (1)(b) to be possibly contaminated, the inspector must by notice designate that material or object as possibly contaminated.

Commencement Information

I79 Sch. 2 para. 20 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Restrictions in relation to susceptible material or objects contaminated or possibly contaminated with Potato ring rot E+W

21.—(1) No person may knowingly plant or knowingly cause or permit to be planted—

(a) any contaminated susceptible material; or

(b) any possibly contaminated susceptible material.

(2) Where susceptible material or an object has been designated as contaminated or possibly contaminated under paragraph 20(1) or (5), a plant health inspector must serve a notice requiring that—

(a) in the case of contaminated susceptible material, the material be disposed of by destruction or by any other measure that complies with point 1 of Annex 4 to Directive 93/85/EEC;

(b) in the case of possibly contaminated susceptible material, the material be used or disposed of in accordance with point 2 of Annex 4 to Directive 93/85/EEC;

(c) in the case of a contaminated object or a possibly contaminated object, the object be—

(i) disposed of by destruction; or

(ii) cleansed and disinfected so that there is no identifiable risk of Potato ring rot surviving or spreading.

(3) Anything cleansed and disinfected in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)(c)(ii) may no longer be treated as contaminated for the purposes of Directive 93/85/EEC.

Commencement Information

I80 Sch. 2 para. 21 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Measures in relation to a contaminated place of production E+W

22.—(1) A plant health inspector must serve the following notices on any occupier or other person who is in charge of a contaminated place of production—

(a) in relation to any contaminated field which is part of the place of production, a notice containing the first set of eradication measures or a notice containing the second set of eradication measures;

(b) in relation to any field which is part of the place of production but is not contaminated, a notice containing the third set of eradication measures.

(2) The first set of eradication measures is—

(a) the measures to be taken in the field from the date of receipt of the notice and for at least three growing years from the start of the first growing year so as to eliminate volunteer potato plants, and other naturally found host plants, of Potato ring rot;

(b) a prohibition on the planting of any of the following in the field during that period—

(i) potato tubers, plants or true seeds;

(ii) naturally found host plants of Potato ring rot;

(iii) crops for which there is a risk of Potato ring rot spreading;

(c) a requirement that in the first potato cropping season following that period, only potatoes for ware production be planted in the field, that they only be planted if the field has been found free from volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of Potato ring rot for at least two consecutive growing years prior to planting, and that the harvested tubers be subjected to official testing using the method set out in Annex 1 to Directive 93/85/EEC; and

(d) a requirement that in the next potato cropping season only potatoes for seed or ware production be planted in the field following an appropriate rotation cycle (which must be at least two years where the potatoes are to be planted for seed production).

(3) The second set of eradication measures is—

(a) the measures to be taken in the field from the date of receipt of the notice and for four growing years from the start of the first growing year so as to eliminate volunteer potato plants, and other naturally found host plants, of Potato ring rot;

(b) a requirement that, during that period, the field be maintained in bare fallow or in permanent pasture with frequent close cutting or intensive grazing; and

(c) a requirement that in the first potato cropping season following that period, only potatoes for seed or ware production be planted, that they only be planted if the field has been found free from volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of Potato ring rot for at least two consecutive growing years prior to planting, and that the harvested tubers be subjected to official testing using the method set out in Annex 1 to Directive 93/85/EEC.

(4) The third set of eradication measures is—

(a) where a plant health inspector is satisfied that the risk of volunteer potato plants and other naturally found host plants of Potato ring rot has been eliminated, a prohibition on the planting of any of the following in the field from the date of receipt of the notice and for the first growing year—

(i) potato tubers, plants or true seeds;

(ii) naturally found host plants of Potato ring rot; and

(iii) certified seed potatoes, unless they are for ware production only;

(b) a requirement that, in the subsequent growing year only the following potatoes be planted for seed or ware production—

(i) certified seed potatoes; and

(ii) seed potatoes officially tested for the absence of Potato ring rot and grown under official control at a place of production which is not a contaminated place of production;

(c) a requirement that, during at least the third growing year, only certified seed potatoes or seed potatoes grown under official control from certified seed potatoes be planted for seed or ware production; and

(d) the measures to be taken in the field from the date of receipt of the notice to the end of the third growing year so as to eliminate volunteer potato plants, and naturally found host plants of Potato ring rot and a requirement that official testing be carried out on harvested tubers in each field using the method set out in Annex 1 to Directive 93/85/EEC.

(5) A notice served by a plant health inspector under sub-paragraph (1)(a) containing the first set of eradication measures must additionally—

(a) include a requirement that all machinery and storage facilities at the place of production which are used for potato production be cleansed and disinfected immediately and following the first growing year; and

(b) specify the appropriate methods for cleansing and disinfecting the machinery and storage facilities.

(6) The measures which may be specified in a notice under sub-paragraph (1) or (5) may be included in a notice with other appropriate measures.

(7) The person on whom a notice is served pursuant to paragraph (1) must ensure that the measures specified in the notice are taken in the required manner.

(8) Where a plant health inspector serves a notice containing the first set of eradication measures, the Secretary of State must ensure that an official survey is carried out in relation to the field mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(d) in accordance with Article 2 of Directive 93/85/EEC.

Commencement Information

I81 Sch. 2 para. 22 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Additional measures applicable to a unit of protected crop production E+W

23.—(1) This paragraph applies to the planting of any potato tubers, plants or true seeds in a contaminated unit of protected crop production where it is possible to replace all of the growing medium in the unit.

(2) No person may plant any potato tubers, plants or true seeds in the unit without the written authorisation of a plant health inspector.

(3) A plant health inspector may not grant an authorisation under sub-paragraph (2) unless—

(a) all of the measures to eliminate Potato ring rot and to remove all host plants which are specified in a notice in relation to the place of production in which the unit is situated have been complied with;

(b) the growing medium in the unit has been completely changed; and

(c) the unit and all equipment used on the unit has been cleansed and disinfected to eliminate Potato ring rot and to remove all host plant material.

(4) Where an authorisation is granted under sub-paragraph (2), the authorisation may specify that only certified seed potatoes, mini-tubers or micro-plants derived from officially tested sources may be used in the production.

Commencement Information

I82 Sch. 2 para. 23 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Measures to be taken in demarcated zones for the control of Potato ring rot E+W

24.—(1) This paragraph applies where a plant health inspector has demarcated a zone pursuant to paragraph 20(1)(c).

(2) The Secretary of State may, by notice, specify further prohibitions, restrictions and other measures which are to apply in the demarcated zone to prevent the risk of Potato ring rot surviving or spreading.

(3) The Secretary of State may, in particular, specify in a notice under sub-paragraph (2) that—

(a) any machinery or storage facilities at premises within the demarcated zone which are used for potato production must be cleansed and disinfected in an appropriate manner so that there is no identifiable risk of Potato ring rot surviving or spreading;

(b) only certified seed potatoes or seed potatoes grown under official control may be planted during the specified period;

(c) any seed potatoes grown in a place of production which is possibly contaminated must be officially tested after harvesting;

(d) potatoes intended for planting must be handled separately from all other potatoes at premises within the zone or that a system of cleansing and, where appropriate, disinfection must be carried out between the handling of seed potatoes and the handling of ware potatoes during the specified period.

(4) A notice under sub-paragraph (2)—

(a) must be in writing;

(b) must describe the extent of the demarcated zone;

(c) must specify the date on which each measure is to take effect and for how long;

(d) must be published in a manner appropriate to bring it to the attention of the public; and

(e) may be amended, suspended or revoked, in whole or in part, by further notice.

(5) Any premises which are partly within and partly outside a demarcated zone must be treated as within that zone for the purposes of this paragraph, except where the part which is outside the demarcated zone is not in England.

(6) A notice published in accordance with sub-paragraph (4) is to be treated as having been served on—

(a) any occupier or other person in charge of any premises within the demarcated zone; and

(b) any person who operates machinery or carries out any other activity in relation to the production of potatoes within the demarcated zone.

(7) The Secretary of State must ensure that—

(a) premises growing, storing or handling potato tubers, and premises which operate potato machinery under contract, are supervised by plant health inspectors for the duration of the specified period;

(b) an official survey is carried out during the specified period in accordance with Article 2 of Directive 93/85/EEC;

(c) a programme is established, where appropriate, for the replacement of all seed potato stocks over an appropriate period of time.

(8) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (3) and (7), “the specified period” means the period specified in the notice, which must be at least three growing seasons following the year in which the zone was demarcated.

Commencement Information

I83 Sch. 2 para. 24 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 6 E+W Measures for the control of Potato brown rot

25.  In this Schedule— E+W

“certified seed potatoes” means pre-basic seed potatoes, basic seed potatoes or certified seed potatoes within the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Seed Potatoes Regulations;

“contaminated” means designated by a plant health inspector as contaminated for the purposes of Article 5(1)(a)(ii) of Directive 98/57/EC;

“first growing year”, in the case of measures to be taken in relation to a contaminated place of production, means the first growing year following the growing year in which the contaminated place of production is designated as contaminated for the purposes of Article 5(1)(a)(ii) of Directive 98/57/EC;

“notice”, in relation to a notice to be given by a plant health inspector, means a notice under regulation 15(1);

“object” means any item of machinery, vehicle, vessel, store or other object, including packaging material;

“possibly contaminated” means determined by a plant health inspector to be possibly contaminated for the purposes of Article 5(1)(a)(iii) or (c)(iii) of Directive 98/57/EC;

“relevant RNQP requirements”, in relation to plants for planting of Solanum lycopersicum L., means—

(a)

in the case of plants for planting produced before 14th December 2019, the requirements that applied to those plants for planting under, or by virtue of, Council Directive 2000/29/EC;

(b)

in the case of plants for planting produced on or after 14th December 2019, the requirements that apply to those plants for planting under, or by virtue of, the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation;

“susceptible material” means plants (including tubers), other than true seed, of Solanum tuberosum L. or plants, other than fruit or seeds, of Solanum lycopersicum L.;

“zone” means any area, including any individual premises.

Commencement Information

I84 Sch. 2 para. 25 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Official surveys and testing E+W

26.—(1) The Secretary of State must ensure that annual systematic official surveys are carried out in England to identify the presence of Potato brown rot on susceptible material in accordance with Article 2 of Directive 98/57/EC.

(2) Where the presence of Potato brown rot is suspected, the Secretary of State must ensure that—

(a) official testing is carried out to confirm whether it is present—

(i) in the case of susceptible material, using the method set out in Annex 2 to Directive 98/57/EC and in accordance with the conditions specified in point 1 of Annex 3 to Directive 98/57/EC;

(ii) in any other case, using any officially approved method;

(b) pending the confirmation of its presence or the refutation of its suspected presence, where suspect diagnostic visual symptoms of Potato brown rot have been seen, and a positive result in a rapid screening test has been obtained, or a positive result in the screening tests specified in point 2 of Section 1 and Section 3 of Annex 2 to Directive 98/57/EC has been obtained—

(i) the movement of all plants and tubers from all crops, lots or consignments from which the samples have been taken, other than those which are under official control, is prohibited, except where it has been established that there is no identifiable risk of Potato brown rot spreading;

(ii) steps are taken to trace the origin of the suspected occurrence; and

(iii) additional appropriate precautionary measures based on the level of estimated risk are taken to prevent any spread of Potato brown rot.

(3) A notice may contain measures for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(b)(i) to (iii).

Commencement Information

I85 Sch. 2 para. 26 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Measures to be taken following the confirmation of the presence of Potato brown rot E+W

27.—(1) If the presence of Potato brown rot is confirmed following official testing carried out pursuant to paragraph 26(2)(a), the Secretary of State must ensure that the actions specified in sub-paragraphs (2) to (4) are taken in accordance with sound scientific principles, the biology of Potato brown rot and the relevant production, marketing and processing systems of host plants of Potato brown rot.

(2) In the case of susceptible material, the actions are—

(a) an investigation by a plant health inspector to determine the extent and the primary sources of the contamination in accordance with Annex 4 to Directive 98/57/EC;

(b) further official testing, including on all clonally related seed potato stocks;

(c) the designation of the following as contaminated by a plant health inspector—

(i) the susceptible material and consignment or lot from which the sample was taken;

(ii) any objects which have been in contact with that sample;

(iii) any unit or field of protected crop production and any place of production of the susceptible material from which the sample was taken;

(d) a determination by a plant health inspector of the extent of probable contamination through pre- or post-harvest contact, through production, irrigation or spraying links or through clonal relationship;

(e) the demarcation of a zone by a plant health inspector on the basis of the designation under paragraph (c), the determination made under paragraph (d) and the possible spread of Potato brown rot, in accordance with point 2(i) of Annex 5 to Directive 98/57/EC;

(3) In the case of host plants, other than susceptible material, where the production of susceptible material is identified to be at risk by a plant health inspector, the actions are—

(a) an investigation by a plant health inspector to determine the extent and the primary sources of the contamination in accordance with Annex 4 to Directive 98/57/EC;

(b) the designation by a plant health inspector of host plants from which the sample was taken as contaminated;

(c) a determination of the probable contamination by a plant health inspector;

(d) the demarcation of a zone by a plant health inspector on the basis of the designation under paragraph (b), the determination made under paragraph (c) and the possible spread of Potato brown rot, in accordance with point 2(i) of Annex 5 to Directive 98/57/EC.

(4) In the case of surface water and associated wild solanaceous host plants where production of susceptible material is identified by a plant health inspector to be at risk through irrigation, spraying or flooding of surface water, the actions are—

(a) an investigation by a plant health inspector to establish the extent of the contamination, which includes an official survey at appropriate times on samples of surface water and, if present, wild solanaceous host plants;

(b) the designation of surface water from which the sample was taken by a plant health inspector, to the extent appropriate and on the basis of the investigation under paragraph (a);

(c) a determination by a plant health inspector of the probable contamination on the basis of the designation made under paragraph (b);

(d) the demarcation of a zone by a plant health inspector on the basis of the designation under paragraph (b), the determination made under paragraph (c) and the possible spread of Potato brown rot, in accordance with point 2(ii) of Annex 5 to Directive 98/57/EC.

Commencement Information

I86 Sch. 2 para. 27 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Restrictions in relation to susceptible material or objects contaminated or possibly contaminated with Potato brown rot E+W

28.—(1) No person may knowingly plant or knowingly cause or permit to be planted—

(a) any contaminated susceptible material; or

(b) any possibly contaminated susceptible material.

(2) Where susceptible material or an object has been designated as contaminated or possibly contaminated under paragraph 27(2), a plant health inspector must serve a notice requiring that—

(a) in the case of contaminated susceptible material, the material be subjected to any measure that complies with point 1 of Annex 6 to Directive 98/57/EC;

(b) in the case of possibly contaminated susceptible material, the material be used or disposed of in accordance with point 2 of Annex 6 to Directive 98/57/EC;

(c) in the case of a contaminated object or a possibly contaminated object, the object be—

(i) disposed of by destruction; or

(ii) cleansed and disinfected so that there is no identifiable risk of Potato brown rot surviving or spreading.

(3) Anything cleansed and disinfected in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) may no longer be treated as contaminated for the purposes of Directive 98/57/EC.

Commencement Information

I87 Sch. 2 para. 28 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Measures which may be required in relation to a contaminated place of production E+W

29.—(1) A plant health inspector must serve the following notices on any occupier or other person who is in charge of a contaminated place of production which is in a zone demarcated by a plant health inspector under paragraph 27(2)(e)—

(a) in relation to a contaminated field or a unit of protected crop production which is part of the place of production, a notice containing the first set of eradication measures or a notice containing the second set of eradication measures;

(b) in relation to a field which is part of the place of production but is not contaminated and, where the inspector is satisfied that the risk of volunteer potato and tomato plants and other naturally found host plants of Potato brown rot has been eliminated, a notice containing the third set of eradication measures.

(2) The first set of eradication measures is—

(a) the measures to be taken in the field or the unit from the date of receipt of the notice and for at least four growing years from the start of the first growing year, so as to eliminate any volunteer potato and tomato plants and other host plants, including solanaceous weeds, of Potato brown rot;

(b) a prohibition on the planting of any of the following in the field or the unit during that period—

(i) potato tubers, plants or true seeds;

(ii) tomato plants or seeds;

(iii) taking into account the biology of Potato brown rot, other host plants or plants of the species Brassica in respect of which there is a risk of Potato brown rot surviving;

(iv) crops in respect of which there is a risk of Potato brown rot spreading;

(c) a requirement that, in the first potato or tomato cropping season following that period, only potatoes for ware production be planted in the field or the unit, that the potatoes only be planted if the field or the unit has been found free from volunteer potato and tomato plants and other host plants, including solanaceous weeds, during official inspections of Potato brown rot, for at least the two consecutive growing years prior to planting, and that harvested tubers or tomato plants be subjected to official testing using the method set out in Annex 2 to Directive 98/57/EC; and

(d) a requirement that an appropriate rotation cycle be applied in subsequent potato or tomato cropping seasons, which must be at least two years where potatoes are to be planted for seed production.

(3) The second set of eradication measures is—

(a) the measures to be taken in the field or the unit from the date of receipt of the notice and for five growing years from the start of the first growing year so as to eliminate volunteer potato and tomato plants and other naturally found host plants, including solanaceous weeds, of Potato brown rot;

(b) a requirement that—

(i) during the first three of those growing years, the field or the unit be maintained—

(aa) in bare fallow;

(bb) in cereals, if the inspector is satisfied that there is no risk of Potato brown rot spreading;

(cc) in permanent pasture with frequent close cutting or intensive grazing; or

(dd) as grass for seed production;

(ii) during the fourth and fifth growing years, only non-host plants of Potato brown rot in respect of which there is no risk of Potato brown rot surviving or spreading be planted in the field or the unit; and

(c) a requirement that, in the first potato or tomato cropping season following that period, only potatoes for seed or ware production be planted, that the potatoes only be planted if the field or the unit has been found free from volunteer potato and tomato plants and other host plants, including solanaceous weeds, during official inspections of Potato brown rot, for at least the two consecutive growing years prior to planting, and that harvested tubers or tomato plants be subjected to official testing using the method set out in Annex 2 to Directive 98/57/EC.

(4) The third set of eradication measures is—

(a) a requirement that from the date of receipt of the notice and for the first growing year no host plants of Potato brown rot be planted or only the following potatoes and tomato plants be planted in the field—

(i) certified seed potatoes for ware production;

(ii) tomato plants grown from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements for fruit production;

(b) a requirement that, if potatoes are to be planted in the first subsequent growing year, only the following potatoes be planted for seed or ware production in that year—

(i) certified seed potatoes;

(ii) seed potatoes officially tested for the absence of Potato brown rot and grown under official control at a place of production which is not contaminated;

(c) a requirement that, if tomato plants are to be planted in the first subsequent growing year, only the following tomato plants be planted for plant or fruit production in that year—

(i) tomato plants grown from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements;

(ii) if vegetatively propagated, tomato plants grown from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements and grown under official supervision at a place of production which is not contaminated;

(d) a requirement, in the case of potatoes, that, in the second subsequent growing year and any other subsequent growing year, only certified seed potatoes or seed potatoes grown under official supervision from certified seed potatoes be planted for seed or ware production in the field;

(e) a requirement, in the case of tomatoes, that during the second subsequent growing year and any other subsequent growing year, only tomato plants grown from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements or if, vegetatively propagated, tomato plants grown from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements and grown under official control be planted for plant or fruit production in the field; and

(f) the measures to be taken in the field from the date of receipt of the notice to the end of the growing year specified in the notice so as to eliminate volunteer potato plants, and naturally found host plants, of Potato brown rot;

(g) official inspections of growing crops at appropriate times and official testing of harvested potatoes in accordance with the method set out in Annex 2 to Directive 98/57/EC.

(5) A notice served by a plant health inspector under sub-paragraph (1)(a) containing the first set of eradication measures must additionally—

(a) include a requirement that all machinery and storage facilities at the place of production which are used for potato production be cleansed and disinfected immediately and following the first growing year;

(b) specify the appropriate methods for cleansing and disinfecting the machinery and storage facilities; and

(c) prohibit any irrigation or spraying programme at the place of production or specify how any irrigation or spraying programme at the place of production must be carried out, for the purpose of preventing the spread of Potato brown rot.

(6) The measures which may be specified in a notice under sub-paragraph (1) or (5) may be included in a notice with other appropriate measures.

(7) The person on whom a notice is served pursuant to paragraph (1) must ensure that the measures specified in the notice are taken in the required manner.

Commencement Information

I88 Sch. 2 para. 29 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Additional measures in relation to units of protected crop production E+W

30.—(1) This paragraph applies to the planting of any potato tubers, plants or true seeds in a contaminated unit of protected crop production where it is possible to replace all of the growing medium in the unit.

(2) No person may plant any potato tubers, plants or true seeds, tomato plants or seeds or other host plants of Potato brown rot in the unit without the written authorisation of a plant health inspector.

(3) A plant health inspector may not grant an authorisation under sub-paragraph (2) unless—

(a) all of the measures to eliminate Potato brown rot and to remove all host plants of Potato brown rot which are specified in a notice in relation to the place of production in which the unit is situated have been complied with;

(b) the growing medium in the unit has been completely changed; and

(c) the unit and all of the equipment used on the unit have been cleansed and disinfected to eliminate Potato brown rot and remove all host plant material.

(4) An authorisation under sub-paragraph (2) may—

(a) in relation to potato production, specify that only certified seed potatoes or mini-tubers or micro-plants derived from officially tested sources may be used in the production;

(b) in relation to tomato production, specify that only seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements or, if vegetatively propagated, tomato plants produced from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements and grown under official control, may be used in the production;

(c) prohibit any irrigation or spraying programme at the place of production;

(d) specify how any irrigation or spraying programme at the place of production must be carried out for the purpose of preventing the spread of Potato brown rot.

Commencement Information

I89 Sch. 2 para. 30 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Measures to be taken in demarcated zones for the control of Potato brown rot E+W

31.—(1) This paragraph applies where a plant health inspector has demarcated a zone in relation to a confirmed finding of Potato brown rot under paragraph 27(3)(d) or (4)(d).

(2) The Secretary of State may, by notice, specify further prohibitions, restrictions and other measures which are to apply in the demarcated zone to prevent the risk of Potato brown rot surviving or spreading.

(3) The Secretary of State may, in particular, specify in a notice under paragraph (2) that—

(a) any machinery or storage facilities at premises within the demarcated zone which are used for growing, storing or handling potato tubers or tomatoes within the zone, or any premises within the zone from which machinery for potato or tomato production is operated under contract, must be cleansed and, where appropriate, disinfected so that there is no identifiable risk of Potato brown rot surviving or spreading;

(b) in the case of potato crops, only certified seed potatoes or seed potatoes grown under official control may be planted during the specified period;

(c) potatoes intended for planting must be handled separately from all other potatoes at premises within the zone or that a system of cleansing and, where appropriate, disinfection must be carried out between the handling of seed potates and the handling of ware potatoes during the specified period;

(d) in the case of tomato crops, only tomato plants grown from seed which meets the relevant RNQP requirements or, if vegetatively propagated, tomato plants produced from such seed and grown under official control may be planted during the specified period;

(e) contaminated surface water must not be used for the irrigation or the spraying of specified plant material and, where appropriate, other host plants of Potato brown rot, without the prior written authorisation of a plant health inspector;

(f) if liquid waste discharges have been contaminated, any waste from industrial processing or packaging premises in the zone which handle specified plant material must be disposed of under the supervision of a plant health inspector.

(4) A notice under sub-paragraph (2)—

(a) must be in writing;

(b) must describe the extent of the demarcated zone;

(c) must specify in relation to each measure whether it applies generally or to an area of surface water in the demarcated zone;

(d) must specify the date on which each measure takes effect and for how long;

(e) must be published in a manner appropriate to bring it to the attention of the public; and

(f) may be amended, suspended or revoked, in whole or in part, by further notice.

(5) Any premises which are partly within and partly outside a demarcated zone must be treated as within that zone for the purposes of this paragraph, except where the part which is outside the demarcated zone is not in England.

(6) A notice published in accordance with sub-paragraph (4) is to be treated as having been served on—

(a) any occupier or other person in charge of any premises within the demarcated zone;

(b) any person who—

(i) has a right to use any contaminated surface water;

(ii) has any contaminated surface water on premises within the demarcated zone which the person occupies or is in charge of; and

(iii) any person who operates machinery or carries out any other activity in relation to the production of potatoes or tomatoes within the demarcated zone.

(7) The Secretary of State may only specify the measures referred to in sub-paragraph (3) where the zone has been demarcated—

(a) in relation to measures referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) of that sub-paragraph for the purposes of Article 5(1)(a)(iv) of Directive 98/57/EC;

(b) in relation to the measures referred to in paragraphs (e) and (f) of that sub-paragraph for the purposes of Article 5(1)(c)(iii) of Directive 98/57/EC.

(8) The Secretary of State must ensure that—

(a) premises growing, storing or handling potato tubers and premises which operate potato machinery under contract are supervised by plant health inspectors during the specified period;

(b) an official survey is carried out in accordance with Article 2 of Directive 98/57/EC during the specified period;

(c) a programme is established, where appropriate, for the replacement of all seed potato stocks over an appropriate period of time.

(9) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (3) and (8), “the specified period”, in relation to a zone demarcated pursuant to paragraph 27(3)(d) or (4)(d), must be at least three growing seasons following the year in which the zone was demarcated.

Commencement Information

I90 Sch. 2 para. 31 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

PART 7 E+W Measures relating to Egyptian potatoes

Measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Commission Implementing Decision 2011/787/EC E+W

32.—(1) In this Part, “ Egyptian potatoes” means any tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Egypt, which are introduced into the Union territory under Commission Implementing Decision 2011/787/EC.

(2) No professional operator may—

(a) move any Egyptian potatoes within England unless they are labelled to indicate that they originate in Egypt;

(b) process, prepare, wash or package any Egyptian potatoes at premises in England other than at premises that the Secretary of State has approved in writing for that purpose.

(3) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply to the packing or preparation of any Egyptian potatoes in a shop, restaurant, canteen, club, public house, school, hospital, or similar establishment (including a vehicle or a fixed or mobile stall) for delivery to the final consumer.

Commencement Information

I91 Sch. 2 para. 32 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Regulation 38(1)(d) to (f)

SCHEDULE 3 E+W Offences: relevant provisions in the EU Regulations

PART 1 E+W The EU Plant Health Regulation

Commencement Information

I92 Sch. 3 Pt. 1 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Provision of the EU Plant Health Regulation	Subject matter
Article 5(1) (as read with Article 8(1))	Prohibits the introduction of a Union quarantine pest into the Union territory, the movement of a Union quarantine pest within the Union territory or the holding, multiplication or the release of a Union quarantine pest in the Union territory M44 .
Article 9(3) (as read with Article 33(1))	Requires professional operators immediately to notify competent authorities of any evidence they may have concerning an imminent danger of the entry of: (a) a Union quarantine pest or a pest subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) into the Union territory or into a part of the Union territory where it is not yet present; or (b) a protected zone quarantine pest into the respective protected zone.
Article 14(1) (as read with Articles 16 and 33(1))	Requires a professional operator who suspects or becomes aware that: (a) a Union quarantine pest or a pest subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) is present in plants, plant products or other objects which are under the operator's control; (b) a protected zone quarantine pest is present in plants, plant products or other objects which are under the operator's control in the respective protected zone, immediately to notify the competent authority and take precautionary measures to prevent the establishment and spread of the pest.
Article 14(3)	Requires a professional operator: (a) to consult the competent authority where the professional operator has received an official confirmation concerning the presence of a Union quarantine pest in plants, plant products or other objects which are under the operator's control; and (b) where applicable, proceed with the actions required under Article 14(4) to (7).
Article 15(1) (as read with Articles 15(2), 16 and 33(1))	Requires a person who is not a professional operator immediately to notify the competent authority where the person becomes aware of, or has reason to suspect: (a) the presence of a Union quarantine pest, (b) the presence of a protected zone quarantine pest in the respective protected zone.
Article 32(2)	Prohibits the introduction of a protected zone quarantine pest into the respective protected zone, the movement of a protected zone quarantine pest within the respective protected zone or the holding, multiplication or the release of a protected zone quarantine pest in the respective protected zone M45 .
Article 37(1) (as read with Article 39, and Article 17 of the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation)	Prohibits the introduction into the Union territory by a professional operator of a Union regulated non-quarantine pest on plants for planting through which it is transmitted, or the movement of a Union regulated non-quarantine pest within the Union territory by a professional operator on plants for planting through which it is transmitted M46 .
Article 40(1) (as read with Articles 47 and 48(1))	Prohibits the introduction into the Union territory of certain plants, plant products or other objects if they originate from all or certain third countries or territories M47 .
Article 41(1) (as read with Articles 47 and 48(1) [F40 and paragraphs 2A(2), 2C(3) and 4(2) of Schedule 1])	Prohibits: (a) the introduction into the Union territory of certain plants, plant products or other objects from third countries unless the special requirements in respect of those plants, plant products or other objects are fulfilled M48 ; (b) the movement within the Union territory of certain plants, plant products or other objects unless the special requirements in respect of those plants, plant products or other objects are fulfilled M49 .
Article 42(2) (as read with Articles 47 and 48(1))	Prohibits the introduction into the Union territory of high-risk plants, plant products or other objects from third countries M50 .
Article 43(1)	Prohibits the introduction into the Union territory of wood packaging material, whether or not in use in the transport of objects of any kind, unless it fulfils the specified requirements or is subject to the exemptions provided for ISPM 15.
Article 45(1), third paragraph (as read with Article 55)	Requires postal services and professional operators involved in sales through distance contracts to make specified information available to their clients through the internet.
Article 53(1) (as read with Articles 57 and 58).	Prohibits: (a) the introduction of certain plants, plant products or other objects originating from third countries into certain protected zones; (b) the introduction of certain plants, plant products or other objects originating within the Union territory into certain protected zones M51 .
Article 54(1) (as read with Articles 57 and 58)	Prohibits: (a) the introduction of certain plants, plant products or other objects into certain protected zones unless the special requirements in respect of those protected zones are fulfilled; (b) the movement of certain plants, plant products or other objects within certain protected zones unless the special requirements in respect of those protected zones are fulfilled M52 .
Article 59	Requires: (a) vehicles, machinery or packaging material used for specified plants, plant products or other objects moving into or within the Union territory, or through the Union territory, to be free from Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1); (b) vehicles, machinery or packaging material used for specified plants, plant products or other objects moving into or within the protected zones, or through protected zones, to be free from the respective protected zone quarantine pests.
Article 62(1)	Requires a person responsible for a quarantine station or confinement facility to monitor the station or facility and its immediate vicinity for the unintended presence of Union quarantine pests and pests subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1).
Article 62(2)	Requires a person responsible for a quarantine station or confinement facility to take appropriate action based on the contingency plan referred to in point (e) of Article 61(1) and to comply with the obligations of professional operators in Article 14 where the unintended presence of a Union quarantine pest or a pest subject to measures adopted pursuant to Article 30(1) is found or suspected.
Article 64(1) (as read with Article 64(2))	Prohibits the release of plants, plant products and other objects from quarantine stations or confinement facilities unless authorised by the competent authorities.
Article 66(1) (as read with Article 65(3))	Requires certain professional operators to submit an application for registration to the competent authorities.
Article 66(5) (as read with Article 65(3))	Requires registered operators, where relevant: (a) to submit an annual update concerning any changes in the data referred to in points (d) and (e) of Article 66(2) or in the statements referred to in points (b) and (c) of Article 66(2); (b) to update the data referred to in point (a) of Article 66(2) no later than 30 days after the change in that data.
Article 69(1) (as read with Articles 65(3) and 69(3))	Requires a professional operator to whom plants, plant products or other objects are supplied that are subject to the specified requirements or conditions to keep a record allowing the operator to identify the professional operator who supplied each trade unit.
Article 69(2) (as read with Article 69(3))	Requires a professional operator who is supplying plants, plant products or other objects that are subject to the specified requirements or conditions to keep a record allowing the operator to identify the professional operator to whom each trade unit was supplied.
Article 69(4)	Requires professional operators to keep the records required pursuant to Article 69(1) to (3) for at least three years.
Article 70(1)	Requires professional operators who are supplied with, or supply, the plants, plant products or other objects referred to in Article 69(1) and (2) to have in place traceability systems or procedures to allow identification of the movements of those plants, plant products and other objects within and between their own premises.
Articles 72(1) and 73 [F41 (as read with paragraphs 2A(2), 2C(3) and 2E(2) of Schedule 1)]	Prohibits the introduction into the Union territory of certain plants, plant products and other objects from third countries unless they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate M53 .
Article 74(1)	Prohibits the introduction of certain plants, plant products and other objects from third countries into certain protected zones unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate M54 .
Article 79(1) (as read with Articles 81, 82 and 83)	Prohibits the movement of certain plants, plant products and other objects within the Union territory without a plant passport M55 .
Article 80(1) (as read with Articles 81, 82 and 83)	Prohibits the introduction of certain plants, plant products and other objects into certain protected zones, or the movement of certain plants, plant products and other objects within certain protected zones, without a plant passport M56 .
Article 84(1)	Prohibits professional operators from issuing plant passports unless they are authorised and from issuing plant passports for plants, plant products or other objects for which they are not responsible.
Article 84(3)	Prohibits authorised professional operators from issuing plant passports except at specified premises, collective warehouses or dispatching centres.
Article 85 (as read with Article 87 [F42 and paragraph 4(2) and (3) of Schedule 1])	Prohibits authorised professional operators from issuing plant passports for plants, plant products or other objects unless the specified requirements are fulfilled in respect of those plants, plant products or other objects.
Article 86(1) (as read with Articles 86(2) and 87)	Prohibits authorised professional operators from issuing plant passports for plants, plant products or other objects to be introduced into, or moved within, a protected zone unless the specified requirements are fulfilled in respect of those plants, plant products or other objects.
Article 88	Requires professional operators to attach plant passports to the trade unit of the plants, plant products or other objects concerned, or where the plants, plant products or other objects are moved in a package, bundle or container, to that package, bundle or container.
Article 90(1)	Requires an authorised operator: (a) to identify and monitor the points in its production process and certain other critical points as regards the movement of plants, plant products and other objects where the authorised operator intends to issue a plant passport in respect of those plants plant products and other objects; and (b) to keep records concerning the identification and monitoring of those points for at least three years
Article 90(2)	Requires authorised operators to ensure that appropriate training is given to its personnel involved in the examinations referred to in Article 87.
Article 93(1)	Prohibits authorised operators from issuing replacement plant passports unless certain conditions are fulfilled.
Article 93(5)	Requires authorised operators to retain replacement plant passports or their contents for at least three years.
Article 96(1)	Prohibits the marking of wood packaging material, wood or other objects in the Union territory: (a) by any professional operator who is not authorised in accordance with Article 98; or (b) otherwise than in the manner required.
Article 97(1)	Prohibits the repairing of wood packaging material: (a) by any professional operator who is not authorised in accordance with Article 98; or (b) otherwise than in the manner required.

Textual Amendments

F40 Words in Sch. 3 Pt. 1 inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(9)(a)

F41 Words in Sch. 3 Pt. 1 inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(9)(b)

F42 Words in Sch. 3 Pt. 1 inserted (21.4.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(9)(c)

Marginal Citations

M44 The list of Union quarantine pests is set out in Annex 2 to Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants (OJ No. L 319, 10.12.2019, p. 1) (“the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation”).

M45 The list of protected zones and the respective protected zone pests is set out in Annex 3 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M46 The list of Union-regulated non-quarantine pests and the relevant plants for planting, with categories and thresholds, is set out in Annex 4 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M47 The list of plants, plant products and other objects and the third countries, groups of third countries or specific areas of third countries to which the prohibition applies is set out in Annex 6 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M48 The list of plants, plant products and other objects originating from third countries and the corresponding special requirements in relation to their introduction into the Union territory is set out in Annex 7 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M49 The list of plants, plant products and other objects originating in the Union and the corresponding special requirements in relation to their movement within the Union territory is set out in Annex 8 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M50 The list of high risk plants, plant products and other objects to which the prohibition applies is set out in Annex 1 to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 establishing a provisional list of high risk plants, plant products or other objects, within the meaning of Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and a list of plants for which phytosanitary certificates are not required for introduction into the Union, within the meaning of Article 73 of that Regulation (OJ No. L 323, 19.12.2018, p.10).

M51 The list of plants, plant products and other objects for these purposes is set out in Annex 9 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M52 The list of plants, plant products and other objects for these purposes is set out in Annex 10 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M53 The list of plants, plant products and other objects for the purposes of Article 72(1) is set out in Part A of Annex 11 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation. The list of plants, plant products and other objects for the purposes of Article 73(1) is set out in Part B of that Annex, but does not include any plants, plant products and other objects in the list set out in Part C of that Annex.

M54 The list of plants, plant products and other objects for these purposes is set out in Annex 12 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M55 The list of plants, plant products and other objects for these purposes is set out in Annex 13 the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

M56 The list of plants, plant products and other objects for these purposes is set out in Annex 14 to the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.

PART 2 E+W The Officials Control Regulation

Commencement Information

I93 Sch. 3 Pt. 2 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Provision of the Official Controls Regulation	Subject matter
Article 47(5) (as read with Articles 5 and 7 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain categories of animals and goods exempted from official controls at border control posts, specific controls on passengers' personal luggage and on small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market M57 )	Requires the operator responsible for a relevant consignment entering the Union to ensure that it is presented for official controls at the border control post of first arrival into the Union.
Article 50(1)	Requires the operator of a relevant consignment to which Article 47(1) applies to present the original official certificates or documents which are required to accompany the consignment to the competent authorities of the border control post.
Article 50(3)	Prohibits the operator of a relevant consignment from splitting the consignment until official controls have been performed and the Community Health Entry Document (“CHED”) has been finalised.
Article 56(1)	Requires the operator of a relevant consignment to complete the relevant part of the CHED.
Article 56(4) (as read with Article 1(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1013 on the prior notification of consignments of certain categories of animals and goods entering the Union M58 and regulation 9)	Requires the operator of a relevant consignment to give prior notification to the competent authorities of the border control post of arrival of the consignment before the physical arrival of the consignment in the Union.

Marginal Citations

M57 OJ No. L 321, 12.12.2019, p.45.

M58 OJ No. L 165, 21.6.2019, p.8.

PART 3 E+W Other EU legislation

Commencement Information

I94 Sch. 3 Pt. 3 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Provision of EU legislation	Subject matter
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1602 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Common Health Entry Document accompanying consignments of animals and goods to their destination M59
Article 3 (as read with Articles 4(a), 5(1) (b), (d), 5(2)(a) and (c) and 6(a))	Requires the operator responsible for a consignment to ensure that a CHED accompanies the consignment before it is released for free circulation in accordance with Article 57(2)(b) of the Official Controls Regulation.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for official controls of consignments of animals and goods in transit, transhipment and onward transportation through the Union M60
Article 5(a) and (b)	Requires the operator who is responsible for a relevant consignment that has been given authorisation for onward transportation to enter certain details in the CHED and submit the CHED
Article 6	Requires the operator who is responsible for a relevant consignment that has been given authorisation for onward transportation to comply with the specified conditions relating to its transportation and storage.
Article 16(1) and (3)	Requires the operator who is responsible for a transhipped relevant consignment to notify the specified information to competent authorities.
Article 22(4)	Requires the operator who is responsible for a relevant consignment that is in transit through the Union territory to take specific measures relating to the transportation of the consignment.
[F43 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2123 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for the cases where and the conditions under which identity checks and physical checks on certain goods may be performed at control points and documentary checks may be performed at distance from border control posts
Article 2(1)(d), (e), (f), (g)(i) and (h) (as read with Article 2(2) and (3)), Article 5(1) (as read with Article 5(2), Article 6(1) and (4) and Article 8(2))	Requires the operator responsible for a consignment to comply with certain conditions where identity and physical checks on the consignment are to be performed at a control point other than a border control post]

Textual Amendments

F43 Words in Sch. 3 Pt. 3 inserted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(8)

Marginal Citations

M59 OJ No. L 250, 30.9.2019, p.6.

M60 OJ No. L 321, 12.12.2019, p.73.

Regulation 38(1)(g)

SCHEDULE 4 E+W Offences relating to EU emergency decisions

Commencement Information

I95 Sch. 4 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

EU decision	Provision of EU decision
Commission Decision 98/109/EC	Article 1 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of cut flowers of Orchidaceae originating in Thailand)
Commission Decision 2002/757/EC	Article 3(1) and (2) (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of susceptible plants and susceptible wood originating in the USA)
	Article 3(4) (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of certain plants, other than seeds, intended for planting and originating in third countries other than the USA)
	Article 4 (prohibition on the introduction into the Union territory of susceptible bark originating in the USA)
	Article 5 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of certain plants intended for planting originating in the Union)
Commission Decision 2004/200.EC	Article 1 (prohibition on the movement within the Union territory of seeds of Solanum lycopersicum L. contaminated by Pepino mosaic virus) insofar as it relates to the movement of seeds of Solanum lycopersicum L. that were produced before 14th December 2019 and are moved within the Union territory at any time before 14th December 2020
	Article 3(1) (requirements in relation to the movement of seeds of Solanum lycopersicum L. originating in the Union) insofar as it relates to the movement of seeds of Solanum lycopersicum L. that were produced before 14th December 2019 and are moved within the Union territory at any time before 14th December 2020
Commission Implementing Decision 2011/787/EU	Article 1(1) (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. originating in Egypt)
Commission Implementing Decision 2012/138/EU	Article 2 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries, other than China)
	Article 3(1) and (2) (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in China)
	Article 4 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants originating in, or introduced into, demarcated areas or specified plants introduced into the Union territory in accordance with Article 2 or 3)
Commission Implementing Decision 2012/270/EU	Article 1 (prohibition on the introduction into the Union territory, and the spread within the Union territory, of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix papa. (Orlova-Bienkowskaja), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) or Epitrix tuberis (Gentner))
	Article 2(1) (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of potato tubers originating in third countries where one or more of the specified organisms are known to be present)
	Article 3 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of potato tubers originating in demarcated areas or potato tubers introduced into the Union territory from third countries where one or more of the specified organisms are known to be present)
Commission Implementing Decision 2012/535/EU	Article 10(1) and (2) (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of susceptible plants, susceptible wood or susceptible bark)
Commission Implementing Decision 2012/697/EU	Article 2 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries)
	Article 3 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants originating in demarcated areas)
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789	F44 . . .
	Article 15 (prohibition on the introduction of plants for planting, other than seeds, of Coffea originating in Costa Rica or Honduras)
	F45 . . .
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/893	Article 2(a) (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries where the specified organism is known to be present)
	Article 3(a) (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified wood originating in third countries where the specified organism is known to be present)
	Article 4 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants originating in, or introduced into, demarcated areas, or specified plants introduced into the Union territory from third countries in accordance with Article 2)
	Article 5 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified wood originating in demarcated areas, specified wood retaining all or part of its round surface which has been introduced into demarcated areas or specified wood packaging material originating in demarcated areas)
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/715	Article 5 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified fruits originating in South Africa or Uruguay)
	Article 5a (requirements in relation to introduction into the Union territory of specified fruits originating in Argentina or Brazil)
F46 . . .
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/638	Article 3(a) and (b) (requirements in relation to introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries other than Switzerland)
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1503	Article 7(1), (6) and (7) (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants originating in demarcated areas, specified plants introduced into demarcated areas or specified plants introduced into the Union territory from third countries where the specified organism is known to be present in accordance with Article 11)
	Article 8 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified wood originating in demarcated areas or specified wood retaining all or part of its round surface introduced into demarcated areas)
	Article 9 (requirements in relation to movement within the Union territory of specified wood packaging material originating in demarcated areas)
	Article 11 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries where the specified organism is known to be present)
	Article 12 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified wood originating in third countries where the specified organism is known to be present)
F47 . . .
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1739	Article 2 (prohibition on the introduction of Rose rosette virus into the Union territory and its spread within the Union territory)
	Article 5 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries)
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/2032	Article 6 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants)
	Article 7 (requirements in relation to the movement of specified wood and isolated bark from an infested zone to a buffer zone or from a demarcated area)
	Article 8 (requirements in relation to the movement of wood packaging material from an infested zone to a buffer zone or from a demarcated area)
	Article 9 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in non-European third countries)
	Article 10 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified wood or isolated bark originating in non-European third countries)
[F48 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/885	Article 2 (prohibition on the introduction of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Takikawa, Serizawa, Ichikawa, Tsuyumu & Goto into the Union territory, and its spread within the Union territory)
	Article 3 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants originating in third countries)
	Article 7 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants that have spent a part of their lives in the Union)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1191	Article 2 (prohibition on the introduction of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus into the Union territory and its spread within the Union territory)
	Article 6 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified plants for planting within the Union)
	Article 7 (requirements in relation to the movement within the Union territory of specified seeds)
	Article 8 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified plants for planting originating in third countries)
	Article 9 (requirements in relation to the introduction into the Union territory of specified seeds originating in third countries)]

Textual Amendments

F44 Words in Sch. 4 omitted (21.4.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(10)(a)

F45 Words in Sch. 4 omitted (21.4.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/381), regs. 1, 2(10)(b)

F46 Words in Sch. 4 omitted (15.10.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(9)(a)(i)

F47 Words in Sch. 4 omitted (15.10.2020) by virtue of The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(9)(a)(ii)

F48 Words in Sch. 4 inserted (15.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1014), regs. 1(1), 2(9)(b)

Yn ddilys o 29/10/2020

Regulation 48A

[F49 SCHEDULE 4A E+W Civil sanctions

Textual Amendments

F49 Sch. 4A inserted (28.10.2020) by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1060), reg. 1, Sch.

PART 1 E+W Power to impose civil sanctions

Compliance notice E+W

1.— (1) This paragraph applies where the appropriate authority is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person has committed an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations.

(2) The appropriate authority may by notice (a “compliance notice”) impose on that person a requirement to take such steps as the appropriate authority may specify, within such period as it may specify, to secure that the offence does not continue or recur.

(3) A compliance notice may not be imposed on more than one occasion in relation to the same act or omission.

Restoration notice E+W

2.— (1) This paragraph applies where the appropriate authority is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person has committed an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations.

(2) The appropriate authority may by notice (a “restoration notice”) impose on that person a requirement to take such steps as the appropriate authority may specify, within such period as it may specify, to secure that the position is, so far as possible, restored to what it would have been if the offence had not been committed.

(3) A restoration notice may not be imposed on more than one occasion in relation to the same act or omission.

Imposition of a fixed monetary penalty E+W

3.— (1) This paragraph applies where the appropriate authority is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person has committed an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations.

(2) The appropriate authority may by notice impose on that person a requirement to pay a monetary penalty to the appropriate authority of £250 where the person is an individual and £2000 where the person is a body corporate, partnership or unincorporated association (a “fixed monetary penalty”).

(3) A fixed monetary penalty may not be imposed on more than one occasion in relation to the same act or omission.

(4) The appropriate authority may recover any fixed monetary penalty imposed under this paragraph as if payable under an order of the court.

(5) A fixed monetary penalty paid to the appropriate authority under this paragraph must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Imposition of a variable monetary penalty E+W

4.— (1) This paragraph applies where the appropriate authority is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a person has committed an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations.

(2) The appropriate authority may by notice impose on that person a requirement to pay a monetary penalty to the appropriate authority in such amount as it may determine (a “variable monetary penalty”).

(3) A variable monetary penalty may not be imposed on more than one occasion in relation to the same act or omission.

(4) The amount of a variable monetary penalty must not exceed £250,000.

(5) Before serving a notice relating to a variable monetary penalty, the appropriate authority may require the person on whom it is to be served to provide such information as is reasonable to establish the amount of any financial benefit arising as a result of the offence.

(6) The appropriate authority may recover any variable monetary penalty imposed under this paragraph as if payable under an order of the court.

(7) A variable monetary penalty paid to the appropriate authority under this paragraph must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Notice of intent E+W

5.— (1) If the appropriate authority proposes to serve on a person a compliance notice, a restoration notice or a notice imposing a fixed or variable monetary penalty under this Part, it must serve on that person a notice of what is proposed (a “notice of intent”).

(2) The notice of intent must include—

(a) the grounds for serving the proposed notice;

(b) the requirements of the proposed notice and, in the case of a penalty, the amount to be paid and how payment may be made;

(c) in the case of a fixed monetary penalty—

(i) a statement that liability for the penalty can be discharged by paying 50% of the penalty within 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice was served; and

(ii) information as to the effect of discharging the penalty;

(d) information as to—

(i) the right to make representations and objections within 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice of intent was served; and

(ii) the circumstances in which the appropriate authority may not serve the proposed notice.

Combination of penalties E+W

6.— (1) The appropriate authority may not serve a notice of intent relating to a fixed monetary penalty if, in relation to the same offence—

(a) a compliance notice, restoration notice or stop notice has been served on that person (see paragraphs 1, 2 and 17);

(b) a variable monetary penalty has been imposed on that person (see paragraph 4); or

(c) a third party or enforcement undertaking has been accepted from that person (see paragraphs 9 and 23).

(2) The appropriate authority may not serve a notice of intent relating to a compliance notice, a restoration notice, or a variable monetary penalty, or serve a stop notice, on any person if, in relation to the same offence—

(a) a fixed monetary penalty has been imposed on that person; or

(b) that person has discharged liability for a fixed monetary penalty following service of a notice of intent to impose that penalty.

Discharge of liability – fixed monetary penalties E+W

7.   A fixed monetary penalty is discharged if a person who receives a notice of intent pays 50% of the amount of the penalty within 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice was served.

Making representations and objections E+W

8.   A person on whom a notice of intent is served may within 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served make written representations and objections to the appropriate authority in relation to the proposed service of a compliance notice, restoration notice or notice imposing a fixed or variable monetary penalty.

Third party undertakings E+W

9.— (1) A person on whom a notice of intent relating to a compliance notice, a restoration notice or a variable monetary penalty is served may offer an undertaking as to action to be taken by that person (including the payment of a sum of money) to benefit any third party affected by the offence (a “third party undertaking”).

(2) The appropriate authority may accept or reject a third party undertaking.

(3) The appropriate authority must take into account any third party undertaking that it accepts in its decision as to whether or not to serve a final notice, and, if it serves a notice imposing a variable monetary penalty, the amount of the penalty.

Final notice E+W

10.— (1) After the end of the period for making representations and objections, the appropriate authority must decide whether to impose the requirements described in the notice of intent, with or without modifications.

(2) Where the appropriate authority decides to impose a requirement, the notice imposing it (the “final notice”) must comply with paragraph 11 (for compliance or restoration notices) or 12 (for fixed or variable monetary penalties).

(3) The appropriate authority may not impose a final notice on a person where it is satisfied that the person would not, by reason of any defence, permit or licence, be liable to be convicted of the offence to which the notice relates.

(4) Where the appropriate authority serves a final notice relating to a fixed monetary penalty in respect of any offence, the appropriate authority may not in relation to that offence serve—

(a) a compliance notice;

(b) a restoration notice;

(c) a notice imposing a variable monetary penalty; or

(d) a stop notice.

(5) This paragraph does not apply to a person who has discharged a fixed monetary penalty in accordance with paragraph 7.

Contents of final notice: compliance and restoration notices E+W

11.   A final notice relating to a compliance notice or a restoration notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for serving the notice;

(b) what compliance or restoration is required and the period within which it must be completed;

(c) rights of appeal; and

(d) the consequences of failing to comply with the notice.

Contents of final notice: fixed and variable monetary penalties E+W

12.   A final notice relating to a fixed or variable monetary penalty must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for imposing the penalty;

(b) the amount to be paid;

(c) how payment may be made;

(d) the period within which payment must be made (the “payment period”), which must be not less than 56 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served;

(e) in the case of a fixed monetary penalty, details of the early payment discount (see paragraph 13) and late payment penalties (see paragraph 15(2) and (3));

(f) rights of appeal; and

(g) the consequences of failing to comply with the notice.

Fixed monetary penalty: discount for early payment E+W

13.   If a person who was served with a notice of intent relating to a proposed fixed monetary penalty made representations or objections concerning that notice within the time limit specified in paragraph 8, that person may discharge the final notice by paying 50% of the final penalty within 28 days beginning with the day on which the final notice was served.

Appeals against a final notice E+W

14.— (1) The person on whom a final notice is served may appeal against it.

(2) The grounds for appeal are—

(a) that the decision was based on an error of fact;

(b) that the decision was wrong in law;

(c) in the case of a variable monetary penalty, that the amount of the penalty is unreasonable;

(d) in the case of a non-monetary requirement that the nature of the requirement is unreasonable;

(e) that the decision was unreasonable for any other reason;

(f) that the decision was wrong for any other reason.

Fixed monetary penalty: non-payment within the stated payment period E+W

15.— (1) This paragraph applies to a final notice relating to a fixed monetary penalty.

(2) If the final penalty is not paid within the stated payment period, the amount payable is increased by 50%.

(3) In the case of an appeal which is unsuccessful, the penalty is payable within 28 days of the determination of the appeal, and if it is not paid within 28 days, the amount of the penalty is increased by 50%.

Criminal proceedings E+W

16.— (1) If—

(a) a compliance notice or restoration notice is served on any person,

(b) a third party undertaking is accepted from any person,

(c) a notice imposing a variable monetary penalty is served on any person, or

(d) a fixed monetary penalty is served on any person,

that person may not at any time be convicted of an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations in respect of the act or omission giving rise to the compliance notice, restoration notice, third party undertaking, variable monetary penalty or fixed monetary penalty except in a case falling within paragraph (a) or (b) (and not also falling within paragraph (c)) where the person fails to comply with a compliance notice, restoration notice or third party undertaking (as the case may be).

(2) Criminal proceedings for offences to which a notice or third party undertaking in sub-paragraph (1) relates may be instituted at any time up to 6 months from the date from when the appropriate authority notifies the person against whom the proceedings are to be taken that the person has failed to comply with that notice or undertaking.

PART 2 E+W

Stop notices E+W

Stop notices E+W

17.— (1) The appropriate authority may serve a notice (a “stop notice”) on any person prohibiting that person from carrying on an activity specified in the notice until the person has taken the steps specified in the notice.

(2) A stop notice may only be served where—

(a) the person is carrying on the activity or the appropriate authority reasonably believes that the person is likely to carry on the activity;

(b) the appropriate authority reasonably believes that the activity is causing, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm, or adverse effects to plant health; and

(c) the appropriate authority reasonably believes that the activity carried on, or likely to be carried on, by that person involves or is likely to involve the commission of an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations.

(3) The steps referred to in sub-paragraph (1) must be steps to eliminate the risk of the offence being committed.

Contents of a stop notice E+W

18.   A stop notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for serving the stop notice;

(b) the activity which is prohibited;

(c) the steps the person must take to comply with the stop notice and the period within which they must be completed;

(d) rights of appeal; and

(e) the consequences of failing to comply with the notice.

Appeals E+W

19.— (1) The person on whom a stop notice is served may appeal against the decision to serve it.

(2) The grounds for appeal are—

(a) that the decision was based on an error of fact;

(b) that the decision was wrong in law;

(c) that the decision was unreasonable;

(d) that any step specified in the notice is unreasonable;

(e) that the person has not committed the offence and would not have committed it had the stop notice not been served;

(f) that the person would not, by reason of any defence, permit or licence have been liable to be convicted of the offence had the stop notice not been served.

(g) that the decision was wrong for any other reason.

Completion certificates E+W

20.— (1) The appropriate authority must issue a certificate (a “completion certificate”) if, after service of a stop notice, the appropriate authority is satisfied that the person on whom it was served has taken the steps specified in the notice.

(2) A stop notice ceases to have effect on the issue of a completion certificate.

(3) The appropriate authority may require the person on whom the stop notice was served to provide sufficient information to determine that the steps specified in the notice have been taken.

(4) A person on whom a stop notice is served may at any time apply for a completion certificate.

(5) The appropriate authority must decide whether to issue a completion certificate and give written notice of the decision to the applicant (including information as to the right of appeal) within 14 days of the application.

(6) The applicant may appeal against a decision not to issue a completion certification on the grounds that the decision—

(a) was based on an error of fact;

(b) was wrong in law;

(c) was unfair or unreasonable;

(d) was wrong for any other reason.

Compensation E+W

21.— (1) The appropriate authority must compensate a person for loss suffered as the result of the service of the stop notice or the refusal of a completion certificate if that person has suffered loss as a result of the notice or refusal and—

(a) the stop notice is subsequently withdrawn or amended by the appropriate authority because the decision to serve it was unreasonable or any step specified in the notice was unreasonable;

(b) the appropriate authority is in breach of its statutory obligations;

(c) the person successfully appeals against the stop notice and the First-tier Tribunal finds that the service of the notice was unreasonable; or

(d) the person successfully appeals the refusal of a completion certificate and the First-tier Tribunal finds that the refusal was unreasonable.

(2) A person may appeal against a decision not to award compensation or the amount of compensation on the grounds that—

(a) the appropriate authority's decision was unreasonable;

(b) the amount offered was based on incorrect facts; or

(c) the decision was wrong for any other reason.

Offences E+W

22.   If a person on whom a stop notice is served does not comply with it within the time limit specified in the notice, the person is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine.

PART 3 E+W

Enforcement undertakings E+W

Enforcement undertakings E+W

23.   Where the appropriate authority has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person has committed an offence under Part 11 of these Regulations, the appropriate authority may accept a written undertaking (an “enforcement undertaking”) given by that person to take such action as may be specified in the undertaking within such period as may be specified.

Contents of an enforcement undertaking E+W

24.— (1) An enforcement undertaking must specify—

(a) action to be taken by the person to secure that the offence does not continue or recur;

(b) action to secure that the position is, so far as possible, restored to what it would have been if the offence had not been committed; or

(c) action (including the payment of a sum of money) to be taken by the person to benefit any person affected by the offence

(2) It must specify the period within which the action must be completed.

(3) It must include—

(a) a statement that the undertaking is made in accordance with this Schedule;

(b) the terms of the undertaking; and

(c) information as to how and when the person is to be considered to have discharged the undertaking.

(4) The enforcement undertaking may be varied, or the period within which the action must be completed may be extended, if both the appropriate authority and the person who gave the undertaking agree in writing.

Acceptance of an enforcement undertaking E+W

25.— (1) If the appropriate authority has accepted an enforcement undertaking from a person—

(a) that person may not at any time be convicted of the offence in respect of the act or omission to which the undertaking relates; and

(b) the appropriate authority may not serve on that person a compliance notice, restoration notice or stop notice, or impose a fixed or variable monetary penalty on that person, in respect of that act or omission.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if a person who gave the undertaking has failed to comply with it or any part of it.

Discharge of an enforcement undertaking E+W

26.— (1) If the appropriate authority is satisfied that an enforcement undertaking has been complied with, it must issue a certificate (a “discharge certificate”) to that effect.

(2) An enforcement undertaking ceases to have effect on the issue of a discharge certificate.

(3) The appropriate authority may require the person who has given the undertaking to provide sufficient information to determine that the undertaking has been complied with.

(4) The person who gave the undertaking may at any time apply for a discharge certificate.

(5) The appropriate authority must decide whether to issue a discharge certificate, and give written notice of the decision to the applicant (including information as to the right of appeal), within 14 days of such an application.

(6) The applicant may appeal against a decision not to issue a discharge certificate on the grounds that the decision—

(a) was based on an error of fact;

(b) was wrong in law;

(c) was unfair or unreasonable;

(d) was wrong for any other reason.

Inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information E+W

27.— (1) A person who has given inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information in relation to an enforcement undertaking is to be regarded as not having complied with it.

(2) The appropriate authority may by notice in writing revoke a discharge certificate issued under paragraph 26 if it was issued on the basis of inaccurate, misleading or incomplete information.

Non-compliance with an enforcement undertaking E+W

28.— (1) If a person does not comply with an enforcement undertaking, the appropriate authority may, in the case of an offence committed under Part 11 of these Regulations—

(a) serve a compliance notice, restoration notice, variable monetary penalty, stop notice or non-compliance penalty; or

(b) bring criminal proceedings.

(2) If a person has complied partly but not fully with an undertaking, that partial compliance must be taken into account in the imposition of any criminal or other sanction on the person.

(3) Criminal proceedings for offences to which an enforcement undertaking relates may be instituted at any time up to 6 months from the date on which the appropriate authority notifies the person that the person has failed to comply with the undertaking.

PART 4 E+W

Non-compliance penalties E+W

Non-compliance penalties E+W

29.— (1) The appropriate authority may serve a notice on a person imposing a monetary penalty (a “non-compliance penalty”) if that person fails to comply with—

(a) a compliance notice, restoration notice or third party undertaking, irrespective of whether a variable penalty was also imposed; or

(b) an enforcement undertaking.

(2) The amount of the non-compliance penalty must be determined by the appropriate authority, and must be a percentage of the costs of fulfilling the remaining requirements of the compliance notice, restoration notice, third party undertaking or enforcement undertaking.

(3) The percentage must be determined by the appropriate authority having regard to all the circumstances of the case and may, if appropriate, be 100%.

(4) The notice must include information as to—

(a) the grounds for imposing the non-compliance penalty;

(b) the amount to be paid;

(c) how payment must be made;

(d) the period in which payment must be made, which must not be less than 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served;

(e) rights of appeal;

(f) the consequences of failure to comply with the notice; and

(g) any circumstances in which the appropriate authority may reduce the amount of the penalty.

(5) If the requirements of the compliance notice, restoration notice, third party undertaking or enforcement undertaking are fulfilled before the time specified for payment of the non-compliance penalty, the penalty is not payable.

(6) Following expiry of the specified payment period, the appropriate authority may recover the non-compliance penalty as if payable under an order of the court.

(7) A non-compliance penalty paid to the appropriate authority under this paragraph must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Appeals E+W

30.— (1) The person on whom the notice imposing the non-compliance penalty is served may appeal against it.

(2) The grounds of appeal are—

(a) that the decision to serve the notice was based on an error of fact;

(b) that the decision was wrong in law;

(c) that the decision was unfair or unreasonable for any reason;

(d) that the amount of the penalty is unreasonable;

(e) that the decision was wrong for another reason.

PART 5 E+W

Withdrawal and amendment of notices E+W

Withdrawing or amending a notice E+W

31.   The appropriate authority may at any time in writing—

(a) withdraw a compliance notice, restoration notice or stop notice, or amend the steps specified in such a notice in order to reduce the amount of work necessary to comply with it;

(b) withdraw a notice imposing a fixed monetary penalty; or

(c) withdraw a notice imposing a variable monetary penalty or a non-compliance penalty, or reduce the amount of the penalty specified in the notice.

PART 6 E+W

Costs recovery E+W

Recovery of enforcement costs E+W

32.— (1) The appropriate authority may give a costs recovery notice if any of the conditions in sub-paragraph (3) are met.

(2) A cost recovery notice is a notice requiring the person to pay the appropriate authority's costs.

(3) The conditions are that the appropriate authority has—

(a) imposed on the person a compliance notice under paragraph 1;

(b) imposed on the person a restoration notice under paragraph 2;

(c) imposed on the person a variable monetary penalty under paragraph 4; or

(d) served on the person a stop notice under paragraph 17.

(4) In sub-paragraph (2), the reference to costs is a reference to any costs relating to preparing and giving the compliance notice, restoration notice, variable monetary penalty, or stop notice, as the case may be, and includes a reference to the costs of any related investigation or expert advice, (including legal advice).

(5) The costs recovery notice must include information as to—

(a) the amount of the costs which must be paid;

(b) the period in which payment must be paid, which must not be less than 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice is served;

(c) how payment must be made;

(d) the consequences of failing to make payment within the specified payment period; and

(e) rights of appeal.

(6) Following expiry of the specified payment period, the appropriate authority may recover the costs referred to in the costs recovery notice as if payable under an order of the court.

(7) The person to whom the costs recovery notice is given may appeal against it.

(8) The grounds of appeal are—

(a) that the decision to serve the notice was based on an error of fact;

(b) that the decision was wrong in law;

(c) that the decision was unfair or unreasonable for any reason;

(d) that the amount of the penalty was unreasonable;

(e) that the decision was wrong for any other reason.

PART 7 E+W

Appeals E+W

Appeals E+W

33.— (1) Any appeal under this Schedule must be made to the First-tier Tribunal.

(2) In any appeal the Tribunal must determine the standard of proof.

(3) An appeal against a notice served under this Schedule (other than a stop notice) suspends the effect of the notice appealed against until the appeal is determined or withdrawn.

(4) The Tribunal may, in relation to the imposition of a requirement or service of a notice—

(a) withdraw the requirement or notice;

(b) confirm the requirement or notice;

(c) vary the requirement or notice;

(d) take such steps as the appropriate authority could take in relation to the act or omission giving rise to the requirement or notice;

(e) remit the decision whether to confirm the requirement or notice, or any other matter relating to that decision, to the appropriate authority.

PART 8 E+W

Guidance and publicity E+W

Guidance as to the use of civil sanctions E+W

34.— (1) The appropriate authority must publish guidance about its use of civil sanctions.

(2) The appropriate authority must revise and update guidance where appropriate.

(3) The appropriate authority must have regard to the guidance or revised and updated guidance in exercising its functions.

(4) In the case of guidance about compliance notices, restoration notices, fixed monetary penalties, variable monetary penalties, stop notices and non-compliance penalties, the guidance must contain information as to—

(a) the circumstances in which the civil sanction is likely to be imposed;

(b) the circumstances in which it is not likely to be imposed;

(c) where relevant, rights to make representations and objections;

(d) rights of appeal; and

(e) in the case of guidance about variable monetary penalties and non-compliance penalties, the matters likely to be taken into account by the appropriate authority in determining the amount of the penalty (including voluntary reporting by a person of the person's own non-compliance).

(5) In the case of guidance about enforcement undertakings, the guidance must contain information as to—

(a) the circumstances in which the appropriate authority is likely to accept an enforcement undertaking; and

(b) the circumstances in which the appropriate authority is not likely to accept an enforcement undertaking.

Consultation on guidance E+W

35.   The appropriate authority must consult such persons as it considers appropriate before publishing—

(a) any guidance; or

(b) any significant revisions or updates to guidance which has already been published.

Publication of enforcement action E+W

36.— (1) The appropriate authority must publish annually—

(a) the cases in which civil sanctions have been imposed;

(b) where the civil sanction is a compliance notice, a restoration notice or variable monetary penalty, the cases in which a third party undertaking has been accepted;

(c) the cases in which an enforcement undertaking has been accepted.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1)(a), the reference to cases in which civil sanctions have been imposed does not include cases where a sanction has been imposed but overturned on appeal.

(3) This paragraph does not apply in cases where the appropriate authority considers that publication would be inappropriate.]

Regulation 49

SCHEDULE 5 E+W Amendments to secondary legislation relating the marketing of seeds and plant propagating material and plant health fees

PART 1 E+W The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material Regulations 1995

1.—(1) The Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material Regulations 1995 M61 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In regulation 8—

(a) in paragraph (2), for “Council Directive 2000/29/EC” substitute “ the EU Plant Health Regulation ”;

(b) for paragraph (5) substitute—

“(5) In this regulation, “the EU Plant Health Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants.”.

Commencement Information

I96 Sch. 5 para. 1 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M61 S.I. 1995/2652, amended by S.I. 2007/1449; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

PART 2 E+W The Marketing of Ornamental Plant Propagating Material Regulations 1999

2.—(1) The Marketing of Ornamental Plant Propagating Material Regulations 1999 M62 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In regulation 2(1)—

(a) after the definition of “Directive 98/56/EC” insert—

““the EU Plant Health Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants;”;

(b) omit the definition of “Directive 2000/29/EC”.

(3) In regulation 6A(4), in the definition of “responsible official body”, for the words from “a body” to the end, substitute “ , in relation to England, the Secretary of State ”.

(4) In regulation 7, for paragraph (4) substitute—

“(4) Registration of a supplier on the register of professional operators for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation is deemed to constitute registration for the purposes of paragraph (1) above.”.

(5) In regulation 8(3)—

(a) for the words from “notifiable” to “Order 2015” substitute “ plant pest of a description specified in Annex 2, 3 or 4 to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants, ”;

(b) for “article 42 of that Order (notification of the presence or suspected presence of certain plant pests)” substitute “ the EU Plant Health Regulation ”.

(6) In regulation 9(2), for “Directive 2000/29/EC” substitute “ the EU Plant Health Regulation ”.

(7) In regulation 12(3), for the words from “if he delivers” to the end substitute “ , in relation to England, if the supplier delivers a phytosanitary certificate for export or a phytosanitary certificate for re-export to the Secretary of State ”.

Commencement Information

I97 Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M62 S.I. 1999/1801; relevant amending instruments are S.I. 2018/575, 974.

PART 3 E+W The Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002

3.—(1) The Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002 M63 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In regulation 2(2), in the definition of “plant passport”, for “Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005” substitute “ Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants ”.

Commencement Information

I98 Sch. 5 para. 3 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M63 S.I. 2002/3026, amended by S.I. 2014/1833; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

PART 4 E+W The Seed Potatoes (England) Regulations 2015

4.—(1) The Seed Potatoes (England) Regulations 2015 M64 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In regulation 2(1), after the definition of “National Lists Regulations” insert—

““the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations” means the Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019;”.

(3) In regulation 13(9), after “these Regulations” insert “ , Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants ”.

(4) In Schedule 1—

(a) in paragraph 3(d)—

(i) for “Schedule 13 to the Plant Health (England) Order 2015” substitute “ Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations ”;

(ii) for “that Order” substitute “ those Regulations ”;

(b) in paragraph 4(1)(b), for “Schedule 14 to the Plant Health (England) Order 2015” substitute “ Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations ”;

(c) in paragraph 7(1)(b), for “Schedule 14 to the Plant Health (England) Order 2015” substitute “ Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations ”;

(d) in paragraph 10(1)(b), for “Schedule 14 to the Plant Health (England) Order 2015” substitute “ Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations ”.

(5) In Schedule 2, in paragraph 10(b), omit “or the Plant Health (England) Order 2015”.

(6) In Schedule 5, in paragraph 3(b)—

(a) for “Schedule 13 to the Plant Health (England) Order 2015” substitute “ Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations ”;

(b) for “that Order” substitute “ those Regulations ”.

Commencement Information

I99 Sch. 5 para. 4 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M64 S.I. 2015/1953.

PART 5 E+W The Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015

5.—(1) The Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015 M65 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In regulation 1A(1)—

(a) in the definition of “approved place of inspection” for “article 3 of the Order” substitute “ regulation 13(10) of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019 ”;

(b) after the definition of “EU Plant Health Regulation” insert—

““FC remedial notice” means a notice served by a plant health inspector under regulation 10 or 15(1) or (2) of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019;”;

(c) for the definition of “licence” substitute—

““licence” means—

(a) a licence referred to in regulation 51(1) of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019 that has been granted by the Forestry Commissioners; or

(b) an authorisation described in regulation 20(1)(a) or (b)(i) or 21(1)(a) of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019 and granted by the Forestry Commissioners;”;

(d) after the definition of “licence”, insert—

““the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019” means the Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019;”;

(e) for the definition of “Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation” substitute—

““Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation” means Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants;”;

(f) after the definition of “Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation” insert—

““plant health inspector” means an official plant health officer appointed by the Forestry Commissioners for the purposes of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019;”;

(g) in the definition of “plant passport authority”, at the end insert “ and granted by the Forestry Commissioners ”;

(h) omit the definition of “the Order”;

(i) omit the definition of “remedial notice”;

(j) in the definition of “remedial work”, for “remedial notice, or by an inspector under article 32(1) of the Order” substitute “ FC remedial notice, or by a plant health inspector under regulation 16(1) of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019 ”;

(k) in the definition of “WPM authorisation”, at the end insert “ and granted by the Forestry Commissioners ”.

(3) In regulation 3—

(a) omit paragraph (6);

(b) at the end insert—

“(6A) The person on whom a FC remedial notice is served or who is given notice under regulation 16(1) of the Official Controls (Plant Health) Regulations 2019 must pay the fee specified in Schedule 5 for the carrying out or the monitoring by a plant health inspector of remedial work and associated activities in connection with a controlled consignment.”.

Commencement Information

I100 Sch. 5 para. 5 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M65 S.I. 2015/350, amended by S.I. 2019/734, 1488.

PART 6 E+W The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017

6.—(1) The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 M66 are amended as follows. E+W

(2) In regulation 3(1), omit the definition of “Directive 2000/29/EC”.

(3) Omit regulation 10(6).

(4) In regulation 11(7), for the words from “plant trader” to “2015” substitute “ professional operator for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants ”.

(5) In regulation 15(1)(g), for paragraph (iii) substitute—

“(iii) a plant pest of a description specified in Annex 2, 3 or 4 to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants”.

Commencement Information

I101 Sch. 5 para. 6 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Marginal Citations

M66 S.I. 2017/595.

Regulation 50

SCHEDULE 6 E+W Revocation of instruments

Commencement Information

I102 Sch. 6 in force at 14.1.2020, see reg. 1(1)

Instrument	Reference
The Potatoes Originating in Egypt (England) Regulations 2004	S.I. 2004/1165
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) Order 2004	S.I. 2004/1404
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (Forestry) (Great Britain) Order 2004	S.I. 2004/1684
The Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005	S.I. 2005/2517
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) (Amendment) Order 2005	S.I. 2005/3480
The Plant Health (Wood Packaging Material Marking) Order 2006	S.I. 2006/2695
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order 2006	S.I. 2006/2696
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order 2008	S.I. 2008/644
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order 2009	S.I. 2009/594
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2009	S.I. 2009/3020
The Plant Health (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2012	S.I. 2012/697
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order 2012	S.I. 2012/2707
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) (Amendment) Order 2013	S.I. 2013/572
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2013	S.I. 2013/2691
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) (Amendment) Order 2014	S.I. 2014/609
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2014	S.I. 2014/2420
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) (Amendment) Order 2015	S.I. 2015/382
The Plant Health (England) Order 2015	S.I. 2015/610
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2015	S.I. 2015/1827
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2016	S.I. 2016/104
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2016	S.I. 2016/1167
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2017	S.I. 2017/8
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2017	S.I. 2017/1178
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2017	S.I. 2017/1220
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/71
The Plant Health (Export Certification) (England) (Amendment) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/286
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/320
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No.3) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/910
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) (England and Scotland) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/1048
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No.4) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/1051
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) (No.5) Order 2018	S.I. 2018/1136
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2019	S.I. 2019/1070
The Plant Health (Forestry (Amendment) (England) Order 2019	S.I. 2019/1075
The Plant Health (Amendment) (England) Order 2019	S.I. 2019/1128

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations give effect to—

(a)

Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council on protective measures against pests of plants (OJ No. L 317, 23.11.2016, p.4) (“the EU Plant Health Regulation”); and

(b)

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, in so far as it applies to the rules referred to in Article 1(2)(g) (OJ No. L 95, 7.4.2017, p.1) (“the Official Controls Regulation”).

The Regulations also implement in relation to England—

(a)

Council Directive 69/464/EEC on control of Potato Wart Disease (OJ No. L 323, 24.12.1969, p.1);

(b)

Council Directive 93/85/EEC on the control of potato ring rot (OJ No. L 259, 18.10.1993, p.1);

(c)

Council Directive 98/57/EC on the control of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. (OJ No. L 235, 21.8.1998, p.1); and

(d)

Council Directive 2007/33/EC on the control of potato cyst (OJ No. L 156, 16.6.2007, p.12).

Part 1 is introductory and includes definitions. Regulation 3(2) provides for references to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants (OJ No. L 319, 10.12.2019, p.1), and to the European Union instruments listed in regulation 3(1), to be read as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

Regulation 6 (in Part 2) designates the Secretary of State and the Forestry Commissioners as the competent authorities in England for the purposes of the EU Plant Health Regulation and the Official Controls Regulation.

Part 3 makes further provision in relation to consignments of plants, plant products and other objects from third countries which are subject to official controls on their entry into the European Union.

Part 4 contains powers to enable plant health inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State or the Forestry Commissioners, and the Secretary of State and the Forestry Commissioners, to take measures to prevent the establishment or spread of harmful plant pests in England.

Part 5 and Schedule 1 impose additional temporary measures to prevent the entry of certain harmful plant pests into England or their establishment in, or spread within, England.

Part 6 makes further provision in relation to the registration of professional operators and the granting of authorisations to professional operators by the Secretary of State and the Forestry Commissioners.

Part 7 and Schedule 2 impose additional requirements in relation to certain solanaceous species (potatoes and tomatoes) to implement the Directives mentioned above.

Part 8 imposes additional notification requirements in respect of certain plants and plant products which are to be brought into England from third countries, other member States or Switzerland.

Part 9 sets out general powers of plant health inspectors to enable them to perform official controls and other official activities, and enforce the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation and these Regulations.

Part 10 contain general and supplemental provisions in relation to notices given by plant health inspectors.

Part 11 contains offences for non-compliance with specified provisions of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation and other EU instruments, and offences in relation to these Regulations. Regulation 48 sets out the penalties for these offences.

Part 12 deals with minor and consequential amendments to secondary legislation, revocations and transitional provisions in relation to plant health legislation.

Part 13 amends the Official Controls (Animals, Feed and Food, Plant Health Fees etc.) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1488) to extend certain provisions in those Regulations relating to the implementation and enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 to official controls on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms for the purposes of food and feed production.

Regulation 56 (in Part 14) requires the Secretary of State to review the operation and effect of the EU Plant Health Regulation, the Official Controls Regulation and these Regulations and publish a report at five-yearly intervals.

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