Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

"the Act" means the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965;

"authority concerned" means the authority in the country or place where seed potatoes are produced which is concerned with the certification and classification of seed potatoes in that country or place;

"basic seed potatoes" means - 

(a) in relation to seed potatoes produced in Northern Ireland, seed potatoes in relation to which a certificate classifying them as seed potatoes of a basic category has been issued in accordance with Schedule 1;

(b) in relation to seed potatoes produced elsewhere, seed potatoes in a lot or part of a lot imported into Northern Ireland in a package or container, to or in which has been affixed or placed a label or document, approved by the authority concerned which states that on examination of the potatoes they were classified as seed potatoes of a basic category in that country or place where the Department has approved the arrangements applying to basic seed potatoes in that country or place as being equivalent to those applying in Northern Ireland;

"certificate" means a certificate issued by the Department in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 1 stating in respect of the seed potatoes to which it relates the particulars specified in Schedule 3;

"certification" means - 

(a) in relation to seed potatoes produced in Northern Ireland, certification in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 1;

(b) in relation to seed potatoes produced elsewhere, the official controls exercised by and the official examination carried out by the authority concerned;

"class" means - 

(a) in relation to seed potatoes produced in Northern Ireland the class in which the seed potatoes were placed during the course of classification and specified in the certificate relating to those potatoes, being, in the case of pre-basic seed potatoes, the class or one of the classes specified in order of superiority in Column 1 of Table I in Schedule 2, and in the case of basic seed potatoes any one of the classes specified in order of superiority in Column 1 of Table II of Schedule 2; and

(b) in relation to seed potatoes produced elsewhere, the class stated in a label or document approved by the authority concerned, being a label attached to or document contained in the package or container in which the seed potatoes are imported into Northern Ireland;

"Common Catalogue" means the Common Catalogue of varieties of seed potatoes published in the Official Journal of the European Communities;

(a) that the seed potatoes are derived from source material of the kind specified in the entry in Column 2 corresponding to that class;

(b) that the requirements specified in the entry in Column 3 corresponding to that class have been met; and

(c) on a sample that any of the tolerances specified in the entry in Column 4 corresponding to that class have not been exceeded.

     2. Any tolerance in Column 4 of Table I or Table II expressed as a percentage is a reference to the proportion expressed as a percentage which the number of growing plants affected by the disease or varietal impurity bears to the total number of plants in the sample.


Table I Pre-basic Seed Potatoes

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Class	Source Material	Other Requirements	Tolerances
Pre-basic TC	Nuclear stock or a crop which meets the requirements set out in Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii).	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be grown in a unit officially approved for pro- duction of Pre- basic TC; (b) be kept free, as far as practicable, from diseases and aphids by appropriate husbandry measures.	(i) Deviations from variety -  nil; (ii) Severe mosaic  -  nil; (iii) Leafroll -  nil; (iv) Mild mosaic -  nil; (v) Blackleg -  nil.
Pre-basic 1	Stock which was classified in the year preceding the planting of the crop as Pre-basic TC or a crop which meets the requirements set out in Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii).	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be grown and entered for classification by a person whose facilities, planting arrangements and manner of keeping appropriate records in relation to production of seed potatoes are acceptable to the Department; (b) be grown in the year in which they are entered for classification on an agricultural unit on which all potato crops planted were seed potatoes of pre-basic and VTSC classes; (c) be sufficiently isolated from potato crops below the standard of VTSC 1 and VTSC 2 in order to prevent the transmission of disease from such crops; and (d) have had the foliage of the plants destroyed by the date notified to the owner of the crop or the owner's agent by an authorised officer.	(i) Deviations from variety and type and groundkeepers  -  nil; (ii) Severe mosaic  -  nil; (iii) Leafroll -  nil; (iv) Mild mosaic -  nil; (v) Blackleg -  nil.
Pre-basic 2	Stock which was classified in the year preceding the planting of the crop as Pre-basic 1.	As for Pre-basic 1.	As for Pre-basic 1.

Table II Basic Seed Potatoes

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Class	Source Material	Other Requirements	Tolerances
VTSC SEED VTSC 1	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be seed potatoes derived from a stock which was classified as pre-basic seed potatoes in the year preceding the planting of the crop; or (b) be seed potatoes which meet the requirements set out in Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii) and (iii).	As for Pre-basic 1.	As for Pre-basic 1.
VTSC 2	The seed potatoes shall be seed potatoes derived from a stock which was classified as VTSC 1 in the year preceding the planting of the crop.	As for Pre-basic 1.	As for Pre-basic 1.
SUPER ELITE SEED (SE) SE 1	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be seed potatoes derived from a stock which was classified as Pre- basic TC, Pre- basic 1, Pre-basic 2, VTSC 1 or VTSC 2 in the year preceding the planting of the crop; or (b) be seed potatoes which meet the requirements set out in Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii). and (iii).	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be sufficiently isolated from potato crops below the standard of Super Elite in order to prevent the transmission of disease from such crops; and (b) have had the foliage of the plants destroyed by the date notified to the owner of the crop or the owner's agent by an authorised officer.	(i) Deviations from variety and type and groundkeepers  -  0.05%; (ii) Leafroll and Severe mosaic  -  0.01%; (iii) Mild mosaic  -  0.05%; (iv) Blackleg -  0.25%.
SE 2	(a) The requirements shall be the same as for SE 1 except that the seed potatoes shall be derived from a stock which was classified as SE 1 in the year preceding the planting of the crop; or (b) seed potatoes which meet the requirements set out in Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii) and (iii).	As for SE 1.	As for SE 1.
SE 3	The requirements shall be the same as for SE 1 except that the seed potatoes shall be derived from a stock which was classified as SE 2 in the year preceding the planting of the crop.	As for SE 1.	As for SE 1.
ELITE SEED (E) E	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be derived from a stock which was classified as Pre-basic TC, Pre- basic 1, Pre-basic 2, VTSC 1, VTSC 2, SE 1, SE 2, SE 3 or E in the year preceding the planting of the crop; or (b) be derived from seed potatoes produced in accordance with Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii) and (iii); or (c) be derived from seed potatoes which have been found to meet the requirements of Commission Directive 93/17/EEC and which have been designated by the authority concerned as Community grade EEC 1 or EEC 2.	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be sufficiently isolated from potato crops below the standard of Elite in order to prevent the transmission of disease from such crops; and (b) have had the foliage of the plants destroyed by the date notified to the owner of the crop or the owner's agent by an authorised officer.	(i) Deviations from variety and type and groundkeepers  -  0.05%; (ii) total virus disease (Leafroll, Severe mosaic and Mild mosaic)  -  0.5% of which not more than 0.1% (in total) shall be Leafroll and Severe mosaic; (iii) Blackleg  -  0.5%.
CLASS A SEED
A	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be derived either from a stock which was classified as Pre-basic TC, Pre-basic 1, Pre- basic 2, VTSC 1, VTSC 2, SE 1, SE 2, SE 3 or E in the year preceding the planting of the crop or from seed potatoes produced in accordance with Schedule 1 paragraph 4(b)(ii) and (iii); or (b) be derived from seed potatoes which have been found to meet the requirements of Commission Directive 93/17/EEC and which have been designated by the authority concerned as Community grade EEC 1 or EEC 2.	The seed potatoes shall: (a) be sufficiently isolated from potato crops below the standard of Class A in order to prevent the transmission of disease from such crops; and (b) have had the foliage of the plants destroyed by the date notified to the grower of the crop or the owner's agent by an authorised officer.	(i) Deviations from variety and type and groundkeepers -  0.1%; (ii) total virus disease  - 1.0% of which not more than 0.25% shall be Leafroll and Severe mosaic; (iii) Blackleg - 1.0%.

(a) to seed potatoes classified under these Regulations as being of the class Pre-basic TC; and

(b) to pre-basic seed potatoes produced outside Northern Ireland which are approved by the Department as being equivalent to that class.

    (2) In the case of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies there shall be no deviation from variety.

Pre-basic 1 and Pre-basic 2 and equivalent seed potatoes
     3.  - (1) This paragraph applies - 

(a) to seed potatoes classified under these Regulations as being of the class Pre-basic 1 or Pre-basic 2; and

(b) to seed potatoes produced outside Northern Ireland which are approved by the Department as being equivalent to that class.

    (2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of seed to which this paragraph applies - 

(a) there shall be no deviation from variety;

(b) the minimum size is 25 millimetres; and

(c) the maximum variation in size between tubers in a lot is 25 millimetres.

    (3) For the purposes of determining whether any lot of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies meets the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (2)(a), the variety of any seed potatoes shall be deemed to be as stated on the official label in respect of the lot, if, on a sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, the proportion of the weight of potatoes which deviate from variety does not exceed 0.01% of the total weight of the sample.

    (4) For the purposes of determining whether any lot of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies meets the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (2)(b) or (c), the size of any seed potatoes shall be deemed to be as stated on the official label in respect of the lot, if, on a sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, the proportion of the weight of potatoes which are - 

(i) smaller than the minimum size stated on the official label; and

(ii) larger than the maximum size stated on the official label



does not exceed 2% of the total weight of the sample.

Basic seed potatoes
     4.  - (1) This paragraph applies to basic seed potatoes.

    (2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies - 

(a) there shall be no deviation from variety;

(b) the minimum size is 25 millimetres; and

(c) the maximum variation in size between tubers in a lot is 25 millimetres.

    (3) For the purposes of determining whether any lot of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies meets the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (2)(a), the variety of any seed potatoes shall be deemed to be as stated on the official label in respect of the lot, if, on a sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, the proportion of the weight of potatoes which deviate from variety does not exceed 0.1% of the total weight of the sample.

    (4) For the purposes of determining whether any lot of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies meets the requirements specified in sub-paragraph (2)(b) or (c) - 

(a) in the case of seed potatoes produced in the United Kingdom, the size of any seed potatoes shall be deemed to be as stated on the official label in respect of the lot, if, on a sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, the proportion of the weight of potatoes which are - 


(i) smaller than the minimum size stated on the official label; and

(ii) larger than the maximum size stated on the official label



does not exceed 2% of the total weight of the sample; and

(b) in the case of potatoes produced outside the United Kingdom, the size of any seed potatoes shall be deemed to be as stated on the official label in respect of the lot, if, on a sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, the proportion of the weight of potatoes which are - 



(i) smaller than the minimum size stated on the official label, does not exceed 3%; and

(ii) larger than the maximum size stated on the official label does not exceed 3% - 



of the total weight of the sample.

(a) a package or container of basic seed potatoes shall be predominantly white; and

(b) a package or container of pre-basic seed potatoes shall be white with a diagonal violet line;

(c) an official label shall not measure less than 110mm by 67mm in size;

(d) an official label shall state the following particulars - 


     " EC Rules and Standards"



     Member State

     Country of production

     Producer's identification number

     Species indicated at least in Roman characters, under its botanical name which may be given in abridged form and without the authors' names or under its common name or both

     Variety indicated at least in Roman characters

     Genetically modified (if appropriate)

     Pre-basic or basic seed potatoes

     Class

     Community grade (as appropriate)

     Size

     Net weight

     Month and year of closing.

     2. The size stated in accordance with paragraph 1(d) must, in the case of sizes over 35mm, be stated in multiples of 5mm.

     3. Official labels printed prior to 13th October 1997 with the abbreviation "EEC" instead of "EC" may be used until 31st December 2001.

(a) the name, or initials, or trade brand or other symbols identifying the person who is exporting the pre-basic seed potatoes or basic seed potatoes;

(b) Northern Ireland pre-basic seed potatoes or basic seed potatoes;

(c) the net weight of the contents in kilogrammes.

(a) Table I applies - 


(i) to seed potatoes classified under these Regulations as being of the class Pre-basic TC; and

(ii) to pre-basic seed potatoes produced outside Northern Ireland which are approved by the Department as being equivalent to that class;



(b) Table II applies - 



(i) to seed potatoes classified under these Regulations as being of the class Pre-basic 1 or 2; and

(ii) to pre-basic seed potatoes produced outside Northern Ireland which are approved by the Department as being equivalent to these classes;



(c) Table III applies - 



(i) to basic seed potatoes classified under these Regulations as being of the classes VTSC 1 or VTSC 2; and

(ii) to basic seed potatoes produced in any other part of the United Kingdom which are approved by the Department as being of a class equivalent to either of these classes;



(d) Table IV applies - 



(i) to basic seed potatoes classified under these Regulations as being seed potatoes of a class other than VTSC 1 or VTSC 2; and

(ii) to basic seed potatoes produced in any other part of the United Kingdom which are approved by the Department as being seed potatoes equivalent to any of the classes other than VTSC 1 or VTSC 2; and



(e) Table V applies in the case of basic seed potatoes produced outside the United Kingdom.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), any tolerance in a Column of any of the Tables in this Schedule expressed as a percentage is a reference to the proportion which the weight of potatoes affected by the disease, pest, damage or defect bears to the total weight of the sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, expressed as a percentage.

    (3) In the case of dirt or other extraneous matter, any tolerance in a Column of any of the Tables in this Schedule expressed as a percentage is a reference to the proportion which the weight of such matter bears to the total weight of the sample taken in accordance with regulation 18(3) and Schedule 8, expressed as a percentage.

Individual tolerances
     2. The individual tolerances set out in the entry in Column 2 of Table I, II, III, IV or, as the case may be, V corresponding to the disease, pest, damage or defect set out in Column 1 of these Tables is specified in the case of seed potatoes to which the Table applies in relation to the disease, pest, damage or defect to which the entry corresponds.

Group tolerances
     3. The group tolerances set out in the entry in Column 3 of Table II, III, or, as the case may be, IV corresponding to the diseases, pests, damage or defects within Group II or III set out in Column 1 of those Tables is specified in the case of seed potatoes to which the Table applies in relation to the Group to which the entry corresponds.

Collective group tolerances
     4. The collective group tolerances set out in the entry in Column 4 of Table II, III, IV or, as the case may be, V corresponding to the diseases, pests, damage or defects within Group II, III and IV set out in Column 1 of those Tables is specified in the case of seed potatoes to which the Table applies in relation to those Groups.

Allowable surface area cover
     5.  - (1) This paragraph applies, for the purposes of these Regulations, to seed potatoes to which Table II, III, IV or V applies.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), an authorised officer may deem a potato in any sample of seed potatoes to which this paragraph applies not to be affected by a disease in Group III, set out in Column 1 of the Table applicable to a potato of that class when, in the officer's opinion - 

(a) the surface area of the potato affected by the disease is less than the percentage surface area in the entry corresponding to the disease in Column 5 of the Table; and

(b) the potato has at least two eyes at the rose end wholly unaffected by the disease.

    (3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply when the disease Powdery Scab (Spongospora subterranea (Wallr.) Lagerh) takes its cankerous form.


Table I Pre-basic Tissue Culture Class

Column 1	Column 2
Diseases, pests, damage and defects	Individual Tolerances
Group I
Wart Disease (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.))	NIL
Potato Tuber Eelworm (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne)	NIL
Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera species infesting potatoes)	NIL
Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieck & Kotth.) Davis et al.)	NIL
Brown Rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.)	NIL
Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell))	NIL
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid	NIL
Colorado Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say))	NIL
Group II
Blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary)	NIL
Blackleg (Erwinia carotovora (Jones) Bergey et al. ssp. atroseptica (Hellmers & Dowson) Dye) or Erwinia chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. or both	NIL
Gangrene (Phoma species)/Dry Rot (Fusarium species)/Wet Rot	NIL
Frost damaged tubers	NIL
Group III
Skin Spot (Polyscytalum pustulans (Owen & Wakefield) M.B. Ellis)	NIL
Black Scurf (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)	NIL
Common Scab (Streptomyces species)	NIL
Powdery Scab (Spongospora subterranea (Wallr) Lagerh)	NIL
Group IV
External blemishes	3%
Group V
Dirt or other extraneous matter	1%

Table II Pre-basic 1 and Pre-basic 2 Class

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Diseases, pests, damage and defects	Individual Tolerances	Group Tolerances	Collective Group Tolerances	Allowable % surface area cover
Group I
Wart Disease (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.))	NIL
Potato Tuber Eelworm (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne)	NIL
Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera species infesting potatoes)	NIL
Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieck & Kotth.) Davis et al.)	NIL
Brown Rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.)	NIL
Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell))	NIL
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid	NIL
Colorado Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say))	NIL
Group II
Blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary)	0.1%	0.2%	4.0%
Blackleg (Erwinia carotovora (Jones) Bergey et al. ssp. atroseptica (Hellmers &	0.05%	0.2%	4.0%
Dowson) Dye) or Erwinia chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. or both	0.2%	0.2%	4.0%
Gangrene (Phoma species)/ Dry Rot (Fusarium species)/ Wet Rot	0.1%	0.2%	4.0%
Frost damaged tubers	0.1%	0.2%	4.0%
Group III
Skin Spot (Polyscytalum pustulans (Owen & Wakefield) M. B. Ellis)	0.2%	3.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Black Scurf (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)	0.5%	3.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Common Scab (Streptomyces species)	3.0%	3.0%	4.0%	25.0%
Powdery Scab (Spongospora subterranea (Wallr) Lagerh)	0.5%	3.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Group IV			4.0%
Blemishes such as damaged or misshapen tubers	1.0%
Group V
Dirt or other extraneous matter	1.0%

Note: The collective group tolerance in Column 4 applies to Groups II, III and IV in Column 1.


Table III VTSC Class and Eqivalent (Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK)

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Diseases, pests, damage and defects	Individual Tolerances	Group Tolerances	Collective Group Tolerances	Allowable % surface area cover
Group I
Wart Disease (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.))	NIL
Potato Tuber Eelworm (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne)	NIL
Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera species infesting potatoes)	NIL
Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieck & Kotth.) Davis et al.)	NIL
Brown Rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.)	NIL
Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell))	NIL
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid	NIL
Colorado Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say))	NIL
Group II
Blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary)	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Blackleg (Erwinia carotovora (Jones) Bergey et al. ssp. atroseptica (Hellmers & Dowson) Dye) or Erwinia chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. or both	0.05%	0.5%	4.0%
Soft/Wet Rot	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Dry Rot (Fusarium species)	0.4%	0.5%	4.0%
Gangrene (Phoma species)	0.4%	0.5%	4.0%
Frost damaged tubers	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Group III
Skin Spot (Polyscytalum pustulans (Owen & Wakefield) M. B. Ellis)	0.5%	3.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Black Scurf (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)	1.5%	3.0%	4.0%	25.0%
Common Scab (Streptomyces species)	3.0%	3.0%	4.0%	25.0%
Powdery Scab (Spongospora subterranea (Wallr) Lagerh)	1.5%	3.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Group IV
Blemishes such as damaged or misshapen tubers	2.0%		4.0%
Group V
Dirt or other extraneous matter	1.0%

Note: The collective group tolerance in Column 4 applies to Groups II, III and IV in Column 1


Table IV Basic Seed Potatoes other than VTSC class and equivalent (Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK)

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Diseases, pests, damage and defects	Individual Tolerances	Group Tolerances	Collective Group Tolerances	Allowable % surface area cover
Group I
Wart Disease (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.))	NIL
Potato Tuber Eelworm (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne)	NIL
Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera species infesting potatoes)	NIL
Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieck & Kotth.) Davis et al.)	NIL
Brown Rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.)	NIL
Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell))	NIL
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid	NIL
Colorado Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say))	NIL
Group II
Blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary)	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Blackleg (Erwinia carotovora (Jones)) Bergey et al. ssp. atroseptica (Hellmers &Dowson) Dye) or Erwinia chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. or both	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Soft/Wet Rot	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Dry Rot (Fusarium species)	0.4%	0.5%	4.0%
Gangrene (Phoma species)	0.4%	0.5%	4.0%
Frost damaged tubers	0.2%	0.5%	4.0%
Group III
Skin Spot (Polyscytalum pustulans (Owen & Wakefield) (M. B. Ellis)	2.0%	4.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Black Scurf (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn)	3.0%	4.0%	4.0%	25.0%
Common Scab (Streptomyces species)	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%	25.0%
Powdery Scab (Spongospora subterranea (Wallr) Lagerh)	3.0%	4.0%	4.0%	12.5%
Group IV
Blemishes such as damaged or misshapen tubers	2.0%		4.0%
Group V
Dirt or other extraneous matter	1.0%

Note: The collective group tolerance in Column 4 applies to Groups II, III and IV in Column 1.


Table V Basic Seed Potatoes produced outside the UK

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Diseases, pests, damage and defects	Individual Tolerances	Group Tolerances	Collective Group Tolerances	Allowable % surface area cover
Group I
Wart Disease (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.))	NIL
Potato Tuber Eelworm (Ditylenchus destructor Thorne)	NIL
Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera species infesting potatoes)	NIL
Ring Rot (Clavibacter michiganensis (Smith) Davis et al. ssp. sepedonicus (Spieck & Kotth.) Davis et al.)	NIL
Brown Rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.)	NIL
Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell))	NIL
Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid	NIL
Colorado Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say))	NIL
Group II
Dry Rot (Fusarium species) and Wet Rot	0.5%		6.0%
Group III
Common Scab (Streptomyces species)	5.0%		6.0%	33.3%
Group IV
Blemishes such as damaged or misshapen tubers	3.0%		6.0%
Group V
Dirt or other extraneous matter	2.0%

(a) comprising more than one consignment, or

(b) associated with more than one certificate issued by the Department in accordance with these Regulations,

it shall be so divided that each consignment or, as the case may be, the quantity of seed potatoes associated with each such certificate, constitutes a separate lot and each lot shall be separately sampled.

     2. Where the total quantity of seed potatoes being sampled separately does not exceed 50 kg all the seed potatoes shall be examined.

     3.  - (1) Where the total quantity exceeds 50 kg all the seed potatoes in a sample selected as set out in paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be examined.

    (2) Where seed potatoes are packed in packages or containers (other than sacks or bags) of 50 kg or less or in sacks and bags:

(i) from lots not exceeding 5 tonnes at least one package or container in twenty shall be selected at random, the sample so selected being not less than 50 kg;

(ii) from lots exceeding 5 tonnes a sample of at least 250 kg shall be selected at random.

    (3) Where seed potatoes are packed in packages or containers (other than sacks or bags) of more than 50 kg or unpacked:

(i) from lots not exceeding 5 tonnes at least one-twentieth of the weight of the lot shall be selected at random, the sample so selected being not less than 50 kg;

(ii) from lots exceeding 5 tonnes a sample of at least 250 kg shall be selected at random.

(a) The dressing or re-dressing of seed potatoes;

(b) The replacing of seed potatoes in a different package or container;

(c) The destruction of any packages or containers which appear to have been in contact with seed potatoes affected by disease;

(d) The disposal, as set out in the notice, of the seed potatoes for a use other than as seed potatoes;

(e) The destruction of seed potatoes as set out in the notice;

(f) The cleaning and disinfection of premises and equipment as set out in the notice;

(g) The disinfection of seed potatoes as set out in the notice on premises set out therein.

(a) 69/62/EEC (O.J. No. L48, p. 7);

(b) 71/162/EEC (O.J. No. L87, p. 24);

(c) 72/274/EEC (O.J. No. L171, p. 37);

(d) 72/418/EEC (O.J. No. L287, p. 22);

(e) 73/438/EEC (O.J. No. L356, p. 79);

(f) 75/444/EEC (O.J. No. L196, p. 6);

(g) 78/692/EEC (O.J. No. L236, p. 13);

(h) 88/380/EEC (O.J. No. L187, p. 31);

(i) 98/95/EC (O.J. No. L25, 1.2.99, p.1);

(j) 98/96/EC (O.J. No. L25, 1.2.99, p. 27) on the marketing of seed potatoes.

They also give effect to Commission Decision 93/231/EEC (O.J. No. L106, 30.4.93, p.13) authorising in respect of the marketing of seed potatoes in all or part of the territory of certain member States more stringent measures against certain diseases than are provided for in Annexes I and II to Directive 66/403/EEC.

The Regulations make provision - 

(a) for the classification and grading of seed potatoes including provision relating to production measures in the interests of plant health and for separation in the interests of varietal purity (regulations 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and Schedules 1, 2 and 3);

(b) for the marketing and labelling of seed potatoes including requirements as to the seed potatoes that may be marketed in Northern Ireland and in respect of labelling and sealing of lots of seed potatoes, for official examination prior to marketing, enforcement and disease control measures (regulations 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and Schedules 4 to 7 and 9); and

(c) for sampling of lots, the provision of information, service of notices and exemptions (regulations 18, 20, 21 and Schedule 8).

The Regulations - 

(a) introduce provisions recognising generations of seed potatoes earlier than basic seed potatoes referred to as pre-basic seed potatoes (regulations 2(1) and 4 and Schedule 2);

(b) introduce an amended definition of marketing (regulation 2(4) and (5));

(c) introduce provisions in relation to the marketing of small quantities for scientific purposes or selection work of seed potatoes which contain genetically modified material (regulation 4(5) to (7));

(d) introduce provisions in respect of genetically modified seed potatoes requiring that official labels and marketing information clearly indicate that the seed potatoes have been genetically modified (regulation 11 and Schedules 5 and 7);

(e) introduce a provision in respect of production methods in the interests of plant health (regulation 6);

(f) introduce a prohibition on the planting in Northern Ireland of any potatoes other than potatoes which may be marketed in Northern Ireland under these Regulations or one year's progeny of such potatoes (regulation 22).

A contravention of, or failure to comply with, these Regulations is an offence under section 3 of the Seeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1965, as amended, for which the penalty, on summary conviction, is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5000).