The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2019

Demarcated zone

36.—(1) This paragraph applies where a plant health inspector has demarcated a zone pursuant to paragraph 28(1)(c) of this schedule.

(2) The plant health inspector may, by notice, specify—

(a) how long the zone is to remain demarcated, and

(b) the measures which apply in the demarcated zone.

(3) 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 takes effect,

(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.

(4) Any premises which are partly within and partly outside a demarcated zone must be treated as within that zone for the purposes of this Part of this schedule, except where the part which is outside the demarcated zone is not in Scotland.

(5) A notice published in accordance with sub-paragraph (3)(d) 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.

(6) A notice under sub-paragraph (2) must specify 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) during the specified period—

(i) only pre-basic seed potatoes or basic seed potatoes or seed potatoes grown under official control may be planted, and

(ii) any seed potatoes grown in a place of production which is possibly contaminated must be officially tested after harvesting, and

(c) during the specified period—

(i) potatoes intended for planting must be handled separately from all other potatoes at premises within the zone, or

(ii) a system of cleansing and, where appropriate, disinfection must be carried out between the handling of seed and ware potatoes.

(7) The plant health inspector must ensure that during the specified period—

(a) premises growing, storing or handling potato tubers and premises which operate potato machinery under contract are supervised by a plant health inspector,

(b) an official survey is carried out 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 (6) 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 relevant zone was demarcated.