The Seed Potatoes (Amendment) Regulations 1994

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Seed Potatoes Regulations 1991 “the principal Regulations”). The Regulations implement Commission Directive 93/17/EEC determining Community grades of basic seed potatoes, together with the conditions and designations applicable to such grades (O.J. No. L106, 30.4.93, p. 7) as supplemented by Commission Decision 93/231/EEC (O.J. No. L106, 30.4.93, p. 11).

Directive 93/17/EEC introduces Community grades of seed potatoes in the basic seed potato category which, if produced to the high plant health standard specified in the Directive, may be marketed in protected regions of the Community identified in Commission Decision 93/231/EEC. The protected region of Great Britain comprises Scotland and parts of Cumbria and Northumberland as defined in regulation 2(1) of the principal Regulations.

The Regulations–

(a) restrict the marketing of seed potatoes in the protected region to Community grades of basic seed potatoes as defined in regulation 2(2) (regulation 2(3));

(b) require seed potatoes marketed in the protected region to be graded into one of the Community grades; and provide for seed potatoes marketed outside the protected region of Great Britain to be graded into Community grades if appropriate (regulation 2(4));

(c) correct a drafting error in the principal Regulations (regulation 2(5));

(d) update references to plant health legislation (regulation 2(6));

(e) make provision for Community grades of basic seed potatoes to enter the Great Britain classification system (regulation 2(7)(a)(i) and (ii));

(f) provide for a combined tolerance of 1% total virus at Class AA (regulation 2(7)(b));

(g) require the appropriate Community grade designation on the official labels, official documents and sales documentation (regulation 2(8));

(h) provide forErwinia chrysanthemito be counted within the existing tolerance for blackleg (regulation 2(9)(a)); and

(i) prohibit the marketing of lots of seed potatoes of Community grades marketed in Great Britain which contain more than 0.5% by weight of tubers infected by dry or wet rot (regulation 2(9)(b)).