Title, application and commencement

1.–(1) The title of these Regulations is the Seed Potatoes (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales and come into force on 15 December 2009.

Amendments to the Seed Potatoes (Wales) Regulations 2006

2.–(1) The Seed Potatoes (Wales) Regulations 2006(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1), in the appropriate place insert–

• ""seed potatoes of a conservation variety" ("tatws hadyd o amrywiaeth gadwriaethol") means any variety of seed potatoes accepted by any member State into its national catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species in accordance with Article 3 of Commission Directive 2008/62/EC providing for certain derogations for acceptance of agricultural landraces and varieties which are naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and threatened by genetic erosion and for the marketing of seed and seed potatoes of those landraces and varieties;".

(3) After regulation 4, insert–

"Marketing of conservation varieties

4A.–(1) A person must not market seed potatoes of a conservation variety unless–

(a) the variety is listed in the National List of varieties of potato species prepared and published in accordance with regulation 3 of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001; and

(b) those seed potatoes have been produced in the United Kingdom.

(2) A person proposing to produce seed potatoes of a conservation variety must, before doing so, supply the Welsh Ministers, in such manner and form as the Welsh Ministers require, with details in writing of the size and location of the area to be used to produce that seed.

(3) For the purposes of Articles 14 and 15(2) of Commission Directive 2008/62/EC, the Welsh Ministers may specify the maximum amount of seed potatoes of a conservation variety that may be marketed in any given production season; and different maxima for different persons or classes of persons may be specified.

(4) The amount of seed potatoes of a conservation variety marketed by a person must not exceed any maximum amount specified under paragraph (3) in relation to that person.

(5) Any person marketing seed potatoes of a conservation variety must supply the Welsh Ministers, on written demand, with details in writing of the amount and variety of the seed potatoes placed on the market during each production season.".

(4) In Part 1 of Schedule 2, after paragraph 8, insert-

"8A. In the case of seed potatoes of a conservation variety, in addition to the requirements of paragraphs 1 to 8, an official label must contain the further information required by Article 18 of Commission Directive 2008/62/EC.".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Seed Potatoes (Wales) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2929 (W. 264)) (the principal Regulations) to implement, in Wales, Commission Directive 2008/62/EC providing for certain derogations for acceptance of agricultural landraces and varieties which are naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and threatened by genetic erosion and for marketing of seed and seed potatoes of those landraces and varieties, in so far as it relates to seed production and marketing (OJ No L 162, 21.6.08, p.13).

These Regulations insert the following provisions into the principal Regulations: a definition of "seed potatoes of a conservation variety" into regulation 2; regulation 4A specifying certain requirements in relation to the marketing of seed potatoes of a conservation variety; and paragraph 8A of Schedule 2, which makes provision for the labelling requirements in Article 18 of Commission Directive 2008/62/EC.

Contravention of any of the provisions introduced by these Regulations is an offence under section 16(7)(b) of the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964 (c. 14).

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.