PART 2Competent authorities

Designation of competent authorityI15

1

The Scottish Ministers are designated as the competent authority responsible for the organisation and performance of official controls and other official activities in Scotland insofar as they relate to—

a

plant pests, plants, plant products or other objects, and

b

professional operators.

2

For the purpose of carrying out those of their functions described in paragraph (3), Scottish Ministers may enter into arrangements with the Forestry Commissioners for those functions to be exercised by the Forestry Commissioners on behalf of the Scottish Ministers and in such manner as the Ministers may determine.

3

The functions are functions under—

a

paragraph (1)(a) so far as exercisable in relation to tree pests, trees or forestry material,

b

paragraph (1)(b) so far as they relate to forestry professional operators.

4

In this regulation—

  • “forestry material” means—

    1. a

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

    2. b

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

    3. c

      conifer trees over 3m in height,

    4. d

      bark which has been removed or become detached from a living, felled or fallen tree 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 in relation to plants or plant products described in Article 2(9) of the EU Plant Health Regulation—

    1. a

      the introduction of forestry material into Scotland,

    2. b

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

    3. c

      the export of forestry material from Scotland to a third country,

    4. 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 Scotland,

    5. e

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

    6. f

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

  • “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 M1,

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

  • “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.