Explanatory note

This Order amends the Plant Health Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 so as to implement Commission Directives 2001/32/EC (O.J. No. L127, 9.5.2001, p. 38) and 2001/33/EC (O.J. No. L127, 9.5.2001, p. 42) in Northern Ireland. The former Directive amends the protected zones operated under the principal Plant Health Directive, Council Directive 2000/29/EC (O.J. No. L169, 10.7.2000, p. 1) and the latter provides for the consequential amendments to certain Annexes to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community.

The Order makes several changes to the geographical definitions of various protected zones listed in Schedule 8 and consequential amendments to Schedule 1 Part B, Schedule 2 Part B, Schedule 3 Parts A and B and Schedule 4 Parts A and B. It deletes from Schedule 8 the protected zone in respect of the pest Pissodes ssp (European). Other geographical amendments are made to the zones defined in Schedule 8, including removing Denmark from the protected zones in respect of Bemisia tabaci Genn. and Tomato spotted wilt virus; reflecting local government boundary redefinitions within Sweden in respect of the pest Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say; and reflecting the present distribution of the organisms Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. in France, Italy and Austria and Gonipterus scutellatus Gyll. in Portugal.

The amendments implementing Directive 2001/33/EC are at Articles 5 to 8 inclusive and Articles 10 and 13, and those implementing Directive 2001/32/EC are at Articles 14 to 16 inclusive.

The Order also updates the references to the principal European legislation, reflecting the recent consolidation and repeal of Directive 77/93/EEC which has been replaced by Directive 2000/29/EC. Those amendments are contained at Articles 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 17 of the Order.