Explanatory note

These Regulations, which extend to Great Britain, implement Commission Decision 96/301/EC authorising member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt (OJ No. L115, 9.5.96, p. 47) as amended by the Commission Decision of 28th January 1998 authorising member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt (OJ No. L25, 31.1.98, p. 101).

The Regulations prohibit the import into Great Britain of potatoes originating in Egypt unless those potatoes are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 1 of the Annex to the Commission Decision of 28th January (regulation 3).

The Regulations also require processing of potatoes originating in Egypt to be carried out only in plants approved for the purpose by the Minister (regulation 4).

The Regulations provide that an inspector who has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has or will have in his possession potatoes originating in Egypt may exercise the powers conferred by articles 22 to 25 of the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 in respect of such potatoes (regulation 5).

A person who contravenes or fails to comply with regulation 3 (imports) or 4 (processing) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5,000 (regulation 6).

A Regulatory Appraisal in relation to these Regulations has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament, and copies can be obtained from the Plant Health Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Foss House, Kings Pool, 1—2 Peasholme Green, York YO1 2PX.