Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2016/244/made
Timestamp: 2018-04-19 21:49:06
Document Index: 466093733

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 2', 'ART 3', 'art 5', 'ART 5', 'arts 1', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 5']

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is designated(1) for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972(2) in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Union.
These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of that Act and it appears to the Department that it is expedient for references to the instruments specified in regulation 3(2) to be construed as references to those instruments as amended from time to time.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs makes the following regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of, as read with paragraph 1A of Schedule 2(3) to the European Communities Act 1972 and sections 1(1) and (2A) and 2 of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965(4).
In accordance with section 1(1) of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has consulted with representatives of such interests as appear to it to be concerned.
(b)the “Common Catalogue” is the catalogue provided for in Council Directive 2002/53/EC on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species(5) and in Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed;
(d)the “National List” means the list of agricultural crop varieties prepared and published in accordance with the provisions of the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001(6);
(e)“the Tribunal” means the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal established by the Plant Varieties Act 1997(7);
(a)Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed(8);
(b)Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed(9);
(c)Council Directive 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed(10);
(d)Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants(11);
(e)Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed(12);
(f)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(13);
(g)Commission Directive 2009/145/EC providing for certain derogations, for acceptance of vegetable landraces and varieties which have been traditionally grown in particular localities and regions and are threatened by genetic erosion and of vegetable varieties with no intrinsic value for commercial crop production but developed for growing under particular conditions and for marketing of seed of those landraces and varieties(14);
(h)Commission Directive 2010/60/EU providing for certain derogations for marketing of fodder plant seed mixtures intended for use in the preservation of the natural environment(15); and
(i)Council Decision 2003/17/EC on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops and on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries(16);
PART 2Categories of seed
Seed to which these Regulations apply
4.—(1) These Regulations apply in relation to seed of the plants in the first column of the table in Schedule 1 intended to be used for agricultural or horticultural production, but do not apply in relation to seed intended to be used for ornamental plants.
(2) They do not apply in relation to seed intended for export outside the European Union.
5. Seed is divided into the following categories, commonly known by the abbreviations given—
(a)breeder’s seed (“BR”);
(b)pre-basic seed (“PB”);
(c)basic seed (“BS”);
(d)certified seed (“CS”);
(e)certified seed, first generation (“C1”);
(f)certified seed, second generation (“C2”);
(g)certified seed, third generation (“C3”);
(h)commercial seed (“CM”);
(i)standard seed (vegetables only) (“ST”);
(j)seed of a higher voluntary standard (“HVS”).
6. Breeder’s seed is seed produced by or under the responsibility of the breeder and intended for the production of pre-basic or basic seed.
Maintainers for pre-basic and basic seed
7. Pre-basic seed and basic seed may only be produced with the written authorisation of the person listed as the maintainer of that seed in the National List or the Common Catalogue.
PART 3Marketing seed
9.—(1) The requirement for certification does not apply in relation to breeder’s seed.
(2) Schedule 4 makes provision for the marketing of seed not fully complying with regulation 8.
Overriding requirements: the building blocks necessary for certification
10. To be certified under these Regulations as one of the categories in regulation 5 seed must—
(a)be a variety entered in the National List or the Common Catalogue;
(b)be grown from a seed eligible to produce that category in accordance with Schedule 2;
(c)come from a crop inspected under these Regulations and certified as complying with the requirements of Schedule 2; and
(d)be tested in accordance with these Regulations.
Detailed requirements for certification
11.—(1) In order to be certified a sample of the seed from which the crop is going to be produced must be entered with the Department in sufficient time for the Department to grow a control plot.
(2) The Department may accept the entry of a sample of the seed after this time, but in this case the crop grown to produce the seed must be inspected by an official crop inspector in accordance with regulation 12.
(3) The crop used to produce the seed must be inspected by a crop inspector in accordance with the provisions relating to that crop in Schedule 2, and the crop inspector must certify that—
(a)the crop meets the standard for that crop specified in Schedule 2; or
(b)the crop meets a lower standard but still meets one of the standards in Schedule 2,
and lodge a report to that effect with the Department.
(4) The crop inspector may indicate that remedial action or further inspection is necessary before the crop is certified as meeting the required standard.
(5) Once the crop has been harvested and processed, a sample of the seed must be drawn by a licensed seed sampler (using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist) in accordance with the provisions relating to that crop in Schedule 2 (for the avoidance of doubt the seed lot sizes and sample weights are specified in each of the Directives in the Schedule dealing with the seed).
(6) The seed must be tested in a seed testing station (either licensed or operated by the Department), which must test the seed (using current international sampling and testing methods in so far as they exist) to ensure that the certification standards in Schedule 2 are complied with, and issue a seed test report stating the results and lodge the report with the Department.
(7) An application for certification of seed for which a seed test report has been lodged under paragraph (6), must be made to the Department—
(a)within 30 days of the seed test report being lodged or within such time as the Department may otherwise allow; and
(b)be accompanied by such information and documents as the Department may require.
Standard of seed at the time of marketing
13. At the time of marketing the seed must as a minimum comply with the standards in Schedule 2 relating to that type of seed.
Re-grading of seed at the time of marketing
14. For the avoidance of doubt, if a crop or seed has been certified as belonging to one category, but complies with the minimum requirements of another category for that seed, it may be re-graded as any category for which it satisfies the requirements.
16.—(1) All seed, other than loose sales (for which see Part 5 of Schedule 3), must be supplied in a properly sealed package by a person licensed to do so under regulation 20.
(2) The packaged seed must be in homogenous lots.
(3) A package must be sealed by or under the supervision of a licensed seed sampler.
(4) It must either have a non-re-usable sealing system or be sealed in such a manner that opening the package—
(a)damages the sealing system; or
(b)leaves evidence of tampering on either the label or the package.
(5) If a package is opened other than by the final consumer it must be re-labelled and re-sealed by or under the supervision of a licensed seed sampler, and the fact of resealing, the most recent date of resealing and the authority responsible for it must be stated on the label.
(6) This regulation does not apply in relation to the marketing of small packages of seed as defined in Schedule 3.
17.—(1) All seed must be labelled in accordance with Schedule 3 by a person licensed to do so under regulation 20.
(2) Subject to the provisions of the Act and of these Regulations, no person may reproduce, remove, alter, deface, conceal or misuse in any way any label produced for the purpose of these Regulations.
(a)markets seed;
(b)packs, seals, labels, re-packs, re-seals or re-labels seed for marketing;
(c)prepares mixtures of seed for marketing; or
(d)cleans, treats or in any other way processes seed intended for marketing,
must make sufficient records (either written or electronic) to create an audit trail so that the identity and provenance of any seed marketed or otherwise dealt with in the course of the operation can be established.
(2) Records must be kept for at least 3 years and produced on demand to an officer of the Department (in the case of electronic records a printout must be provided).
23.—(1) A licence, under regulations 20, 21 or 22 must be in writing, and may be subject to such conditions as the Department considers appropriate.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the Department may vary, suspend or revoke a licence by notice in writing at any time.
(3) Where the Department proposes to vary, suspend or revoke a licence it shall—
(a)give the person concerned notice in writing stating what the Department is proposing to do and the reasons for it;
(b)inform the person concerned of his right to make representations to the Department and of the manner in which, and the time (not being less than 21 days from the giving of the notice) within such representations may be made; and
(c)not proceed with its proposed course of action until the period allowed for making representations has passed.
(4) The Department shall consider any representations made before giving the person concerned notification of its decision together with the reasons for that decision and, where appropriate the date from which the decision has effect.
(5) A notification under paragraph (4) shall inform the person concerned of—
(a)his right to appeal to the Tribunal against the Department’s decision; and
(b)the time within such an appeal may be brought.
PART 5Administration and revocations
24.—(1) The Department may withdraw certification from any seed if satisfied that—
(a)the seed, or the seed from which the crop producing the seed was grown, was incorrectly sampled;
(b)the crop from which the seed was harvested did not meet the conditions in Schedule 2; or
(i)did not meet the conditions in Schedule 2 when it was tested; or
(ii)no longer meets those conditions.
(2) The Department may draw a sample (using current international sampling methods insofar as they exist), for the purpose of paragraph (1)(c)(ii).
(3) If certification is withdrawn the Department must notify the certification applicant.
(4) Within 7 days of being notified the certification applicant must notify any person to whom they have sold or supplied the seed.
(5) Any person, other than the certification applicant who has purchased seed, for which official certification has been withdrawn must notify any person to whom any of the seed has been sold or supplied as soon as practicable after receiving notice of the withdrawal.
Sampling for enforcement purposes
25.—(1) A sample of seed taken for the purposes of enforcing these Regulations must be taken by an authorised officer of the Department, who must divide it into three parts.
(2) One part must be given to the owner of the seed (or a representative of the owner) and the other two parts must be sent to an official testing station, one for testing and the other for retention pending production to a court in accordance with section 9(7) of the Act.
27.—(1) Seed imported from outside the European Union must be labelled with a label approved by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development(17) for the varietal certification on the control of seed moving in international trade.
(2) If the seed is to be further multiplied the person intending to multiply it must first submit a sample to the Department for verification.
(3) Any person marketing seed that has been imported and exceeds 2 kilograms must supply the Department, in writing and within one month of the first marketing of the seed, with the following particulars relating to the seed—
(e)the country of dispatch;
(4) Cereal seed to which these regulations apply, which have been imported may only be marketed in Northern Ireland if accompanied by a document stating—
(a)that the seed has been produced from a crop which has been found to be free of plants of wild oat at the time of an official examination and that in addition a 1 kilogram sample of seed (drawn using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist), has been found to be free from seed of wild oat at the time of an official examination; or
(b)that a 3 kilogram sample of the seed (drawn using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist) has been found to be free from seed of wild oat at an official examination.
(a)the Department may draw a sample (using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist), for the purpose of revealing the presence of wild oat;
(b)where a sample drawn pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) is found to contain wild oat the seed lot or part thereof represented by that sample must not be marketed in Northern Ireland.
28.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person aggrieved by a decision of the Department to—
(a)vary, suspend, revoke or refuse to grant a licence of a crop inspector, seed sampler, seed testing station or a person requiring a licence under regulation 20;
(b)refuse to certify seed; or
(c)withdraw certification of seed,
may, within 30 days of being notified of that decision, appeal against it to the Tribunal.
(2) There shall be no right of appeal to the Tribunal where the Department has—
(a)refused to grant or vary a licence; or
(b)varied, suspended or revoked a licence,
for the sole reason that the applicant or licence holder has failed to pass an examination which was required to be undertaken and passed as a condition of the licence.
(3) The Department may extend the time for bringing an appeal, but no appeal shall in any event be brought more than one year after a person is notified of that decision.
29.—(1) Particulars given to a purchaser by the seller of seed in pursuance of these Regulations, whether given expressly or by implication, arising from the description under which the seed is sold, shall constitute a warranty for the purpose of section 4 of the Act.
(2) Section 4(2) of the Act shall apply to any particulars given to a purchaser by the seller of the seed, being particulars given or implied as in paragraph (1), in so far as they relate to the limits of variation for percentage germination, percentage analytical purity or content of seed of other species prescribed, in respect of such matters.
(3) Section 4(3) of the Act shall apply to any particulars given to a purchaser by the seller of the seed, being particulars given or implied as in paragraph (1), in so far as they relate to the percentage germination, percentage analytical purity or content of seed of other species.
(4) A purchaser who intends to obtain a test of seed for the purposes of section 4(3) of the Act must, not more than 10 days after delivery of the seed, give the seller notice of that intention and thereupon the seller may indicate a day, not being more than 21 days after delivery of the seed to the purchaser, and a reasonable time on that day, for a sample to be taken in the presence of the seller or the seller’s representative.
(5) On the day and time appointed by the seller in accordance with paragraph (4) or, if the seller fails to appoint a day and time, the purchaser or the purchaser’s representative may, on a day not more than 28 days after delivery of the seed, take a sample.
(6) A sample, drawn using current international sampling methods in so far as they exist, must be taken and divided, by the purchaser or his representative into two parts of which one shall be sent to an official testing station for the purposes of being tested and the other part delivered to the seller or the seller’s representative.
(7) Where a sample is divided into two parts, in accordance with paragraph (6) each part of the divided sample shall be of at least the minimum weight required for certification under Schedule 2.
31. The Department may charge a reasonable fee for anything done under these Regulations.
32. If the breeder so requests, the description of genealogical components of seed must not be disclosed by the Department.
Licensing in another part of the United Kingdom
33. A crop inspector, seed sampler or seed testing station licensed to act as such in another part of the United Kingdom may act as such under these Regulations.
34.—(1) A crop inspector, seed sampler or seed testing station licensed at the time these Regulations come into force under the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(18) continues to be licensed as such under these Regulations.
(2) A person requiring to be licensed under regulation 20 of these Regulations who was registered at the time these Regulations come into force to carry out such operations under the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 is now licensed to act as such under these Regulations subject to such conditions as may be notified by the Department, and continues to be licensed unless the licence is subsequently suspended or revoked by the Department under these Regulations.
35.—(1) The Seeds (Fees) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002(19) are amended as follows—
(a)in regulation 2(1) (fees) for “Regulations referred” to “Schedules opposite” substitute “Seed Marketing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 the fees set out in Column (3) of Schedules 1 to 6 opposite”;
(b)for the heading of Schedule 1, substitute “MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF CEREAL SEEDS”;
(c)paragraph F of Schedule 1 is omitted;
(d)for the heading of Schedule 2, substitute “MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF FODDER PLANT SEEDS”;
(e)paragraph E of Schedule 2 is omitted;
(f)for the heading of Schedule 3, substitute “MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF OIL AND FIBRE PLANT SEEDS”;
(g)for the heading of Schedule 4, substitute “MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF BEET SEEDS”;
(h)for the heading of Schedule 5, substitute “MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF VEGETABLE SEEDS”;
(i)for the heading of Schedule 6, substitute “MATTERS ARISING IN RESPECT OF LICENSING”; and
(j)sub-paragraph A(ii) of Schedule 6 is omitted.
(a)the Cereal Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(20);
(b)the Beet Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(21);
(c)the Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(22);
(d)the Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(23);
(e)the Vegetable Seeds Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(24);
(f)the Seeds (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009(25);
(g)the Vegetable Seeds (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011(26);
(h)the Fodder Plant Seeds (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011(27);
(i)the Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013(28); and
(j)the Seeds (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014(29).
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 23rd June 2016
(a)Directive 2001/18/EC(30) of the European Parliament and of the Council (on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms); or
(b)Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003(31) (on genetically modified food and feed).
These Regulations, which apply in Northern Ireland, implement—
Council Directive 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed;
Council Directive 66/402/EEC on the marketing of cereal seed;
Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed;
Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed;
Council Directive 2002/56/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants;
(partially) 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;
Commission Directive 2009/74/EC amending Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/55/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the botanical names of plants, the scientific names of other organisms and certain Annexes to Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC in the light of developments of scientific and technical knowledge; and
(partially) Commission Directive 2009/145/EC providing for certain derogations, for acceptance of vegetable landraces and varieties which have been traditionally grown in particular localities and regions and are threatened by genetic erosion and of vegetable varieties with no intrinsic value for commercial crop production but developed for growing under particular conditions and for marketing of seed of those landraces and varieties.
They revoke the ten sets of Regulations listed in regulation 35(2) and replace them with a single set of Regulations for the marketing of seed.
Parts 1 and 2 of the Regulations are introductory and set out the various categories of seed.
The types of seed to which the Regulations apply are set out in Schedule 1.
Part 3 contains requirements for marketing seed. In order to be marketed, the seed must comply with the requirements set out for certification, packaging, sealing and labelling (regulation 8). Schedule 2 sets out certification requirements and Schedule 3 sets out labelling requirements and provision for sale of loose seed. Schedule 4 sets out the exceptions to the general requirements.
Part 3 also imposes record keeping requirements (regulation 19).
Under Part 4 a licence is required to carry out certain operations such as marketing seed (regulation 20). The Department licenses crop inspectors, seed samplers and seed testing stations to act under these Regulations (regulation 21).
Part 5 sets out administrative provisions (including provisions for fees), transitional provisions and revocations.
Part 5 also sets out the requirements for imported seed to be marketed in Northern Ireland (regulation 27).
Contravention of any provision in the Regulations is an offence under section 3(1)(b) of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 (c.22) incurring liability on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this statutory rule as no impact on business or the private or voluntary sector is foreseen. The Explanatory Memorandum for this statutory rule is available alongside the rule at www.legislation.gov.uk.
1972 c.68, as amended by 2008, c.7 and S.I. 2009/3143
1965 c.22 (N.I.). Section 1 was amended by 1970 c.20 (N.I.), section 10(1) and S.R. & O.(N.I.) 1972 No. 351, Article 3 and Schedule 3. Section 2 was amended by 1970 c.20 (N.I.), section 10(2) and S.R. 1977 No. 295, regulation 2. The Ministry of Agriculture became known as the Department of Agriculture by virtue of section 7(5) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c.36). The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland was renamed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development by Article 3(4) of the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1).
Details of these labels are available on the OECD’s website.
S.R. 2009 No. 388, as amended by S.R. 2014 No. 295
S.R. 2002 No. 407, as amended by S.R. 2005 No. 40
S.R. 2009 No. 383
S.R. 2009 No. 384
S.R. 2009 No. 385
S.R. 2009 No. 386
S.R. 2009 No. 387
S.R. 2009 No. 388
S.R. 2011 No. 38
S.R. 2011 No. 397
S.R. 2013 No. 304
S.R. 2014 No. 295