Official Report 698KB pdf
Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 [Draft]
Our next item is consideration of draft regulations. I welcome Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, and her officials: Clarinda Burrell, tree health policy and implementation officer, Scottish Forestry; and David Corrigall, solicitor, Scottish Government.
Minister, I invite you to make an opening statement.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the draft Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. The regulations would amend Scottish legislation in the field of plant health. They introduce provision to extend the duration of an exemption from the requirement to pay fees for phytosanitary certificates for forestry exports from Scotland to Northern Ireland, in certain circumstances, under the UK Government’s movement assistance scheme. That will support Scottish exporters after the transition period and will ensure that Scottish exporters retain access to the same support as their English and Welsh counterparts.
As Northern Ireland remains part of the European Union plant health system, exports from Scotland to Northern Ireland are required to fulfil EU entry requirements, including phytosanitary certificates. The movement assistance scheme, which is funded by the UK Government, temporarily removes the requirement for exporters to pay fees associated with obtaining a phytosanitary certificate for the export of plants and plant products to Northern Ireland. The movement assistance scheme has been extended to June 2025.
The draft regulations also include a minor amendment to the wording of schedule 1 of the Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (England and Scotland) Regulations 2015 in order to provide greater clarity on the scope of activities that may be carried out in relation to audit inspections by competent authorities of professional operators authorised to issue GB plant passports.
I consider the regulations necessary and appropriate. My officials and I would be happy to take questions from the committee.
As there are no questions, we will move on to the next item, which is formal consideration of motion S6M-10920, to approve the draft regulations.
Motion moved,
That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 be approved.—[Lorna Slater]
Motion agreed to.
Is the committee content to delegate authority to me to sign off on our report on our deliberations on the affirmative Scottish statutory instrument?
Members indicated agreement.
I thank the minister and her colleagues for attending the committee this morning.
11:28 Meeting suspended.Rural Support (Simplification and Improvement) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/308)
Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Fruit and Vegetables) (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/311)
Animal Welfare and Food Safety (International Professional Qualification Recognition Agreement Implementation) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/312)
The next agenda item is consideration of three negative instruments. Do members have any comments on the instruments?
Members: No.
Everyone is content. Thank you.
Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations 2024
Official Controls (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023
Our final item of business is consideration of consent notifications for two UK statutory instruments. Are members content to agree with the Scottish Government’s decision to consent to the provisions set out in the notifications being included in UK, rather than Scottish, subordinate legislation?
Members indicated agreement.
Thank you. That concludes our business in public.
11:30 Meeting continued in private until 12:03.