The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Measures to be taken in demarcated zones for the control of Potato ring rot

22.—(1) This paragraph applies where a plant health inspector has demarcated a zone pursuant to paragraph 18(1)(c).

(2) The Department 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 Department 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 Northern Ireland.

(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 Department 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.