Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order further amends the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1993.

This Order implements as respects Northern Ireland—

(i)

Commission Directive 96/14/EC (O.J. No. L.68, 19.3.96, p. 24) amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community;

(ii)

Commission Directive 96/15/EC (O.J. No. L.70, 20.3.96, p. 35) amending Directive 92/76/EEC recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community.

The Order makes the following principal changes—

A person engaged in activities involving the genetic modification of pests or genetically modified plant pests under authority of a licence granted by the Department of Agriculture need no longer obtain additional authorisation for those activities from an inspector (regulation 3).

Protected zones recognised in respect of various specified plant pests are amended (regulations 4 to 9).