Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Plant Health (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016, and comes into operation on 5th July 2016.

Amendment of the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

2.  The Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006(5) is amended in accordance with articles 3 to 14.

Article 2 (general interpretation)

3.  In article 2(1)-

(a)after "Decision 2008/840/EC"(6), at the appropriate place insert-

""Decision 2012/270/EU" means Commission Implementing Decision 2012/270/EU as regards emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis (Gentner), as amended by Commission Implementing Decision 2014/679/EU amending Implementing Decision 2012/270/EU as regards its period of application and as regards the movement to packing facilities of potato tubers originating in areas demarcated in order to prevent the spread within the Union of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) and as further amended from time to time;"(7)(8);

(b)after "Decision 2014/422/EU", at the appropriate place insert-

""Decision (EU) 2015/789" means Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.), as last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/764 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 as regards measures to prevent the introduction and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) and as further amended from time to time;"(9)(10)(11).

Article 15 (general provisions relating to certificates)

4.  In article 15, omit paragraph (4).

Article 19 (prohibitions on landing plant pests and relevant material)

5.  For paragraphs (3) to (5) of article 19(12) substitute-

"(3) Subject to article 22, a person shall not land in Northern Ireland any of the following potatoes unless that person has given written notification of the matters referred to in paragraph (4) to an inspector at least 48 hours prior to the intended date of their landing-

(a)seed potatoes grown in another member State or in Switzerland; or

(b)potatoes, other than seed potatoes, grown in Poland, Portugal, Romania or any part of Spain (other than the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla).

(4) The matters are-

(a)the intended date and time of their landing;

(b)their intended point of entry;

(c)their intended use;

(d)their intended destination;

(e)their variety and quantity; and

(f)the identification number of the producer of the potatoes.".

Article 22 (exceptions from certain prohibitions and requirements)

6.  In article 22-

(a)in paragraph (1), for "Article 19(1)(e), (f) and (g) and (4)" substitute "article 19(1)(e), (f) and (g) and (3)";

(b)after paragraph (2)(13), add-

"(3) The requirements in Article 21(1) and (5) which would apply by virtue of paragraph 11 of Part A of Schedules 6 and 7 to Xylella host plants within the meaning of Article 1(b) of Decision (EU) 2015/789 do not apply where the plants are being moved by a person acting for purposes outside the person's trade, business or profession and the person is acquiring them for personal use.".

Article 28 (conditions for maintaining registration as a plant trader)

7.  In article 28-

(a)for the heading, substitute "Conditions for maintaining registration as a plant trader and other trade-related conditions";

(b)after paragraph (3), add-

"(4) A professional operator who supplies or is supplied with specified plants within the meaning of Article 1(c) of Decision (EU) 2015/789 which have been grown for at least part of their life in, or have been moved through, a demarcated area established in accordance with Article 4 of that Decision, shall-

(a)keep a record of each lot of the plants supplied by the professional operator and the name of the professional operator to whom the lot was supplied for three years from the date on which it was supplied;

(b)keep a record of each lot of the plants received by the professional operator and the name of the professional operator who supplied the lot for three years from the date on which it was received; and

(c)immediately following the dispatch or receipt of any such lot, notify the Department in writing of the details specified in Article 10(4) of Decision (EU) 2015/789 in respect of that lot.

(5) In paragraph (4), "professional operator" has the meaning given in Article 1(d) of Decision (EU) 2015/789.".

Article 41 (notification of the presence or suspected presence of certain plant pests)

8.  In article 41-

(a)in paragraph (1), for "this Article" substitute "this paragraph";

(b)in paragraph (2), for "This Article" substitute Paragraph (1)";

(c)after paragraph (3), add-

"(4) If the Department becomes aware of the presence or suspected presence of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) in any place or area in Northern Ireland, the Department shall immediately inform any person having under their control plants which may be infected by Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) of-

(a)its presence or suspected presence;

(b)the possible consequences arising from its presence or suspected presence; and

(c)the measures to be taken as a result.".

Article 44 (offences)

9.  In article 44(1)(a)(xi), for "Article 28(1)" substitute "article 28(1) or (4)".

Schedule 1 (plant pests which shall not be landed in or spread within Northern Ireland)

10.-(1) In Part A (plant pests not known to occur in any part of the European Community) of Schedule 1-

(a)under the heading "Insects, mites and nematodes", after item 15a(14) insert-

(b)under the heading "Bacteria", for item 2(15) substitute-

(2) In Part B (plant pests known to occur in the European Community) of Schedule 1-

• under the heading "Insects, mites and nematodes", after item 1b(16) insert-

  "1c.	Epitrix cucumeris (Harris) and Epitrix similaris (Gentner)"

Schedule 3 (relevant material which may not be landed in Northern Ireland if that material originates in certain third countries)

11.  In Schedule 3, after item 17 add-

Schedule 4 (restrictions on the landing in and movement within Northern Ireland of relevant material)

12.-(1) In Part A (relevant material, from third countries, which may only be landed in Northern Ireland if special requirements are satisfied) of Schedule 4-

(a)in the third column of item 36, after "36b" insert ", 36c";

(b)in the third column of item 36a, for "and 36b" substitute ", 36b and 36c";

(c)in the third column of item 36b, for "36a" substitute "36c";

(d)after item 36b(17) insert-

(e)after item 86(18) add-

(2) In Part B (relevant material, from another part of the European Community, which may only be landed in or moved within Northern Ireland if special requirements are satisfied) of Schedule 4-

(a)in the third column of item 15, for "15a, 16 and 19a" substitute "15a, 16, 19a and 19b";

(b)in the third column of item 16, for "item 15" substitute "items 15 and 19b";

(c)in the third column of item 17, for "item 20" substitute "items 19b and 20";

(d)in the third column of item 19, for "item 19a" substitute "items 19a and 19b";

(e)after item 19a(19) insert-

(f)in the third column of item 20, after "17", insert "19a, 19b,";

(g)after item 38(20), add-

Schedule 6 (prohibitions on the landing in and movement within Northern Ireland of relevant material without a plant passport)

13.  In Part A (relevant material from Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the European Community, which may only be landed in or moved within Northern Ireland if accompanied by a plant passport) of Schedule 6, after paragraph 9(21) add-

"10.  Without prejudice to paragraph 3, tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., including those intended for planting, which originate in a third country in which Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) or Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) is known to be present or in a demarcated area established in accordance with Article 5 of Decision 2012/270/EU.

11.  Specified plants within the meaning of Article 1(c) of Decision (EU) 2015/789, including plants which have been grown for the entire production cycle in vitro, which have been grown for at least part of their life in a demarcated area established in accordance with Article 4 of that Decision or Xylella host plants within the meaning of Article 1(b) of that Decision which have never been grown in such an area".

Schedule 7 (prohibitions on the consignment of relevant material to another part of the European Community without a plant passport)

14.  In Part A (relevant material which may only be consigned to another part of the European Community if accompanied by a plant passport) of Schedule 7, after paragraph 9(22) add-

"10.  Without prejudice to paragraph 3, tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., including those intended for planting, which originate in a third country in which Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) or Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) is known to be present or which originate in a demarcated area established in accordance with Article 5 of Decision 2012/270/EU.

11.  Specified plants within the meaning of Article 1(c) of Decision (EU) 2015/789, including plants which have been grown for the entire production cycle in vitro, which have been grown for at least part of their life in a demarcated area established in accordance with Article 4 of that Decision or Xylella host plants within the meaning of Article 1(b) of that Decision which have never been grown in such an area.".

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 30th June 2016.

Malcolm Beatty

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 82) ("the principal Order").

The Order implements in part:

(a)Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2012/270 which introduces emergency measures to prevent the introduction and spread of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) (OJ No L 132,23.5.2015, p.18);

(b)Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2014/679 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2012/270 as regards its period of application and as regards the movement to packing facilities of potato tubers originating in areas demarcated in order to prevent the spread within the Union of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) (OJ No L 283, 27.9.2014, p.61);

(c)Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) (OJ No L 125, 21.5.2015, p.36)

(d)Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2417 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) (OJ No L 333, 19.12.2015, p.143);

(e)Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/764 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 as regards measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Xylella fastidiosa (Wells et al.) (OJ No L 126, 14.5.2016, p.77)

Article 3 provides for the references to Commission Implementing Decision 2012/270/EU and Commission Implementing Decision 2015/789/EU to be read as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.

Article 4 amends article 5 of the principal Order to remove the requirement for phytosanitary certificates or phytosanitary certificates for re-export to be based on an inspection performed 14 days before the date of despatch of the relevant material.

Article 5 amends article 19(3) to (5) of the principal Order to exclude potatoes grown in certain parts of Spain from the requirement to give advance written notification of landing in Northern Ireland.

Articles 6 to 9, 10(b), 11, 12(1)(d) and (2)(g), 13(a) and 14(a) amend the principal Order to implement provisions of Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2015/789, (EU) 2015/2417 and (EU) 2016/764.

Articles, 12(1)(d) and 2(e), 13(a) and 14(a) amend the principal Order to implement provisions of Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2012/270 and (EU) 2014/679.

Article 12(2)(e) makes provision to prevent the introduction of Epitrix from any area in mainland Spain which is not demarcated under Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2012/270 as regards emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Union of Epitrix cucumeris (Harris), Epitrix similaris (Gentner), Epitrix subcrinita (Lec.) and Epitrix tuberis (Gentner) (OJ No L 132, 23.5.2015, p.18). It amends Part B of Schedule 4 to the principal Order to prohibit the introduction of unwashed tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., including those intended for planting, from any such area.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on business or the private or voluntary sector is foreseen. The Explanatory Memorandum for this instrument is available alongside the instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.