The Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations come into operation on 31 December 2009. They revoke and replace the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (S.R. 1994 No. 253).

These Regulations continue to prohibit a person from engaging in the seed industry activity (Regulation 2) unless he has been registered by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Regulation 3). Provision continues to request the termination of registrations (regulation 7). Any breach of the conditions of registration may lead to revocation (regulation 8).

There is continued provision to license crop inspectors (regulation 11) and also for a crop inspector to apply to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. to have his licence varied (regulation 12(1)) or terminated (regulation 13) and the Department can continue to be able to vary the licence in any event (regulation 12(4)). The Department has the power to suspend or revoke the licence (regulation 14).

The Regulations continue arrangements to license seed samplers (regulation 18). The power of the Department to vary the licence continues (regulation 19) and the licensee can apply to the Department for the termination of his license (regulation 20). The Department has the power to suspend or revoke the licence (regulation 21).

There is continued provision to license seed testing stations (regulation 25). The person in charge may now apply to vary the licence (regulation 26(1)) and the Department continues to be able to vary it in any event (regulation 26(4)). The licence may now be suspended or revoked not only for breach of conditions of the licence but also if any seed analyst or the analyst in charge of the license seed testing station is unfit (regulation 29).

The Department is required to keep a list of registered persons (regulation 9), a list of licensed crop inspectors (regulation 15), a list of licensed seed samplers (regulation 22) and a list of LSTSs (regulation 30).

Regulation 32 gives provision for enforcement of seeds regulations and gives requirements relating to sampling. Arrangements are in place for any person under the responsibility of the Department to carry out official measures (regulation 34) and for fees to be charged in that connection (regulation 35).

The right to make representations is expanded to cover the categories set out in regulation 36(1). The Department will not proceed with a refusal, variation, suspension or revocation until the person concerned has had an opportunity to make representations, except that she may suspend a licence with immediate effect if the Department considers it necessary. The right of appeal to the Tribunal is correspondingly expanded, with some exceptions (regulation 36(9)).

The Regulations also include provisions regulating the sampling of seed lots for the purposes of the Beet Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, the Cereal Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, the Fodder Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, the Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, and the Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009.

No impact assessment has been for this Rule, as it effects no significant change to the regulation of the seed market in Northern Ireland.