Explanatory note

In addition to some minor and drafting amendments, these Regulations, which further amend the Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations 1985, implement article 2.10 of Council Directive 88/380/EEC (OJ No. L187, 16.7.88, p. 31) insofar as it amends article 15 of Council Directive 66/401/EEC (OJ No. L125, 11.7.66, p. 2298/66) (OJ/SE 1965–66, p. 132) (as amended) on the marketing of fodder plant seed to the extent that seeds produced and packaged but not officially certified in another Member State may be imported into the United Kingdom but shall not be marketed in the United Kingdom until they have been officially certified in the United Kingdom (regulation 2(3)).

Article 1 of Commission Directive 86/109/EEC (OJ No. L93, 8.4.86, p. 21) is implemented to the extent that Red top, Creeping bent and Rough-stalked meadowgrass are deleted from the list of seeds to which the “Commercial Seed” category applies (regulation 2(2) and (6)).

Article 1 of Commission Decision 87/309/EEC (OJ No. L155, 16.6.87, p. 26) as amended by Commission Decision 88/493/EEC (OJ No. L261, 21.9.88, p. 27) is implemented to the extent that it permits the indelible printing on packages of field beans or field peas of the information prescribed in Annex IV of Council Directive 66/401/EEC and prescribed in Schedule 6 to these Regulations (regulation 2(4) and (8)).

Article 2 of Commission Directive 87/120/EEC (OJ No. L49, 18.2.87, p. 39) is implemented insofar as it amends article 2 of Council Directive 66/401/EEC by amending the botanical names used to those recognised internationally (regulation 2(5)).

Article 2 of Council Directive 88/380/EEC is implemented insofar as it amends article 2 and Annexes I and II of Council Directive 66/401/EEC to the extent that Rescue grass and Alaska brome-grass are added to the list of seeds to which the Regulations apply (regulation 2(5), (6) and (7)).

Article 1 of Commission Directive 87/480/EEC (OJ No. L273, 26.9.87, p. 43) is implemented insofar as it amends Annex II of Council Directive 66/401/EEC to the extent that it improves the standards to be satisfied in respect of the maximum content of seed of Rumex spp (regulation 2(6)).

A larger Dynamic Spear Sampler for field peas and field beans has been approved by the Minister (regulation 2(7)).

Article 2.8 and 2.17–27 of Council Directive 88/380/EEC is implemented insofar as it amends article 14 and Annex IV of Council Directive 66/401/EEC by providing that the particulars relating to kind and variety of seed on official labels must be in roman characters and that the kind of seed must be designated by its Latin name (regulation 2(9)).