The Seed Marketing (Wales) Regulations 2012

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations which apply in relation to Wales, implement—

1.  Council Directive 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed; E+W

2.  Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed; E+W

3.  Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed; E+W

4.  Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed; E+W

5.  Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants; E+W

6.  Commission Directive 2009/74/EC amending Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/55/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the botanical names of plants, the scientific names of other organisms and certain Annexes to Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC in the light of developments of scientific and technical knowledge; E+W

7.  Commission Directive 2010/60/EU providing for certain derogations for marketing of fodder plant seed mixtures intended for use in the preservation of the natural environment (OJ No L 228, 31.8.2010, p.10); E+W

8.  Commission Decision 2011/180/EU implementing Council Directive 2002/55/EC as regards conditions under which the placing on the market of small packages of mixtures of standard seed of different vegetable varieties belonging to the same species may be authorised (OJ No L 78, 24.3.2011, p.55). These Regulations implement in part (as necessary)— E+W

9.  Commission Directive 2008/62/EC providing for certain derogations for acceptance of agricultural landraces and varieties which are naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and threatened by genetic erosion and for marketing of seed and seed potatoes of those landraces and varieties; and E+W

10.  Commission Directive 2009/145/EC providing for certain derogations, for acceptance of vegetable landraces and varieties which have been traditionally grown in particular localities and regions and are threatened by genetic erosion and of vegetable varieties with no intrinsic value for commercial crop production but developed for growing under particular conditions and for marketing of seed of those landraces and varieties. These Regulations revoke existing Regulations (and related amendment Regulations) relating to Cereal Seed, Fodder Plant Seed, Oil and Fibre Plant Seed, Vegetable Seed and the Registration, Licensing and Enforcement of Seed. Parts 1 and 2 of these Regulations are introductory and set out the various categories of seed. The types of seed to which these Regulations apply are set out in Schedule 1. Part 3 contains requirements for marketing seed. In order to be marketed, the seed must comply with the requirements set out for certification, packaging, sealing and labelling (regulation 8). Schedule 2 sets out certification requirements and Schedule 3 sets out labelling requirements and provision for sale of loose seed. Schedule 4 sets out exceptions to the general requirements. Part 3 also imposes record-keeping requirements (regulation 19). Under Part 4, a licence is required to carry out certain operations such as marketing seed (regulation 20). The Welsh Ministers may license crop inspectors, seed samplers and seed testing stations to act under these Regulations (regulation 21). Part 5 sets out administrative provisions (including provision for fees) and transitional provisions. In accordance with section 16(7) of the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964, breach of the Regulations is an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. A regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector, in relation to the transposition of Commission Directive 2009/145/EC, is available from the Welsh Government offices in Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ. E+W