Explanatory note

This Order amends the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 so as to implement Commission Directive 96/78/EC (OJ No. L321, 12.12.96, p.20) 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.

The Order, which comes into force on 1st January 1997, amends Schedules 1, 4 and 5 of the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order to introduce controls against the plant pest Tilletia indica Mitra in relation to imports of wheat and rye into the Community from specified countries (articles 3 to 5).

It also makes a consequential amendment to Schedule 16, to include a reference to Commission Directive 96/78/EC in the list of instruments which have amended Council Directive 77/93/EEC (article 6).