Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as The Plant Health (Amendment No.3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011 and shall come into operation on 16th November 2011.

Amendments to the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

2. The Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 2006(3) is amended as follows.

Insertion of new article 35(5)

3. In Article 35 (Service of notices) insert-

"(5) Where a notice is to be served on a potato grower or occupier of premises under Article 38A(3) and the last known place of abode or business of that person cannot be ascertained after reasonable inquiry, the notice shall be deemed to be served seven days after it has been addressed to "the occupier" and affixed conspicuously to an object on the premises on which the crop is growing or on which the potato, soil or waste material is or has been kept.".

Insertion of new articles 38A and 38B

4. After Article 38 (Miscellaneous provisions for certain solanaceous species) insert-

"Inspection and control of potato crop health Dickeya spp.

38A-(1) An inspector may at any reasonable time enter on to any premises on which the inspector reasonably believes that potatoes have been planted, stored, processed or packed and carry out such investigations as the inspector considers necessary for the purpose of establishing whether any potatoes are infected with Dickeya spp..

(2) An inspector may take and remove samples of potato or soil for the purpose of establishing whether any potatoes are infected with Dickeya spp..

(3) Where an inspector reasonably suspects that potatoes are infected with Dickeya spp. the inspector may serve a notice requiring the potato grower or occupier of the premises to take such steps, in such manner and within such time as may be specified in the notice, as appear to the inspector to be necessary to prevent the spread of Dickeya spp. to other potatoes."

5. In part 7A, Article 38A shall be re-numbered 38B.

6. In Article 44(1) (a) (xiiiA) for "article 38A(5)" substitute "Article 38B(5)".

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 6th October 2011.

Keith Morrison

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

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") so as to make provision for preventing the spread of Dickeya spp. in potato crops.

Article 3 inserts a new paragraph (5) into Article 35 of the principal Order to cover notices served under the new Article 38A.

Article 4 inserts a new Article 38A into the principal Order, containing provisions for the inspection of potatoes for the presence of Dickeya spp. and, if infection is suspected or identified, for requiring action to be taken by the person responsible for the potatoes or the premises on which they have been planted, stored, processed or packed.

Articles 5 and 6 make minor drafting changes to the principal Order.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as any impacts are considered to be negligible.