Paragraph 1 Requirements for all tests
England, Wales and Scotland
General
The basic material must satisfy the requirements of Schedules 3 or 4 which are relevant to the type of basic material. Tests set up for the approval of basic material are to be prepared, laid out, conducted and their results interpreted in accordance with internationally recognised procedures, which the provisions of paragraph (e) require shall be approved by F1the appropriate authority in writing. For comparative tests, the reproductive material under test must be compared with one or preferably several standards approved by the appropriate authority or the standards set out in paragraph 3(b) below.
Characters to be examined
The appropriate authority shall be satisfied that tests relied on by an applicant seeking approval under regulation 7(7) are designed in such a way as to assess specific characters, which must be indicated for each test.
Weight shall be given in the testing process to adaptation, growth, biotic and abiotic factors of importance. In addition, the appropriate authority shall be satisfied that other characters which are important in light of the specified purpose, have been evaluated in relation to the ecological conditions of the region in which the test is carried out.
Documentation
The age of the material and results at the time of the evaluation must be notified to the appropriate authority.
Setting up the tests
Each sample of reproductive material shall be raised, planted and managed in an identical way as far as the types of plant material permit.
Each experiment must be established in a valid statistical design with a sufficient number of trees in order that the individual characteristics of each component under examination can be evaluated. The statistical design shall be approved by the appropriate authority in writing.
Analysis and validity of results
The data from experiments must be analysed using statistical methods, which the appropriate authority are satisfied are internationally recognised, and which they shall approve in writing; and results shall be presented to the appropriate authority for each character examined.
The methodology used for the test and the detailed results obtained shall be made freely available by the applicant to the public on request and payment of reasonable copying and postage charges.
An applicant seeking approval under regulation 7(7) shall inform the appropriate authority of the likely region of adaptation within the country in which the test was carried out and information as to any characteristics which might limit the usefulness of the material must also be provided to the appropriate authority.
If during tests it is proved that the reproductive material produced from the basic material the subject of the application under regulation 7(7) does not possess the characteristics of the basic material, or similar resistance of the basic material to plant pests within the meaning of the Plant Health Act 1967f1 and any other harmful organisms which may have an undesirable economic impact, then such reproductive material shall be eliminated from further comparative testing.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in Sch. 5 substituted (1.4.2013) by The Natural Resources Body for Wales (Functions) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/755), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 162 (with Sch. 7)
Footnotes
- f1