SCHEDULE 2

PART 6Measures for the control of Potato brown rot

Official surveys and testing24

1

The Department must ensure that annual systematic official surveys are carried out in Northern Ireland 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 Department 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).