The Seed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2007

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the following Regulations:

(a) the Beet Seed (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3037 (W.225));

(b) the Cereal Seed (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3036 (W.224));

(c) the Fodder Plant Seed (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1207 (W.79));

(d) the Oil and Fibre Plant Seed (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2881 (W.251));

(e) the Vegetable Seed (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3035 (W.223));

(f) the Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3038 (W.226));

These Regulations implement Council Decision 2005/834/EC amending Council Decision 2003/17/EC (OJ No. L 312, 29.11.2005, p. 51). They make amendments to bring certain pre-basic seed that has been officially certified in third countries within the scope of the amended Regulations, allowing such seed to be marketed if it meets the requirements of those Regulations (regulations 2(2)(b) and (5), 3(2)(b) and (7), 4(2)(b) and (7) and 5(2)(b) and (7)). They make consequential amendments to provisions concerning the labelling of such seed (regulations 2(4), 3(6), 4(6) and 5(6)), and make further consequential amendments.

These Regulations implement Commission Directive 2006/124/EC amending Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed (OJ No. L 339, 6.12.2006, p. 12). They also implement a derogation to the requirement to apply the marketing provisions of Council Directive 2002/55/EC in relation to four species and one sub-species permitted by Commission Decision 2007/321/EC (OJ No. L 119, 9.5.2007, p. 48). They amend the Vegetable Seed (Wales) Regulations 2005 to add sweet corn or popcorn to the list of controlled species, and make minor amendments to some of the names and common names of other controlled species (regulation 6(3)). They also set out standards for sweet corn/popcorn regarding analytical purity and the content of seeds of other plant species, as well as lot and sample weights (regulation 6(5) and (6)). They also make minor consequential amendments to those Regulations (regulation 6(4) and (8)) and to the Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations 2002 (regulation 8). A minor amendment is also made to the latter Regulations to make a change to the type of sampling device used in relation to field peas.

These Regulations make amendments as a result of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania as Member States (regulations 2(2)(a), 3(2)(a), 4(2)(a) and 5(2)(a)).

These Regulations correct minor errors resulting from amendments made by the Seed (Wales) (Amendments for Tests and Trials etc.) Regulations 2007 (regulations 2(3), 3(5), 4(5), 5(5) and 6(7)).

A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument.