L.S. 64.01(R) Regolamenti dwar l-Importazzjoni tal-Patata taż-Żrigħ Imħassrin bl-Att XXXIV tal-2023

IMPORTATION OF SEED POTATOES [ S.L.64.01 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 64.01 IMPORTATION OF SEED POTATOES REGULATIONS * 28th September, 1954 GOVERNMENT NOTICE 436 of 1954, as amended by Government Notices 650 of 1955 and 550 of 1958. 1. The title of these Regulations is Importation of Seed Potatoes Regulations. Title. 2. Seed potatoes shall be imported into these Islands only between the 1st day of November of each year and the 15th day of the following March, both days included, and during that period no potatoes for table use shall be imported into these Islands unless the importation thereof is specially authorised in writing by the Director of Agriculture. The aforesaid dates are referable to the release of the goods by the Comptroller of Customs. Period of importation of seed potatoes. Amended by: G.N. 550 of 1958. 3. Every consignment of imported seed potatoes shall be accompanied by a certificate in the form contained in the Schedule to these Regulations, signed by an officer of the Department of Agriculture of the country of origin. Consignment shall be accompanied by certificate. 4. All seed potatoes imported into these Islands shall be packed in bags of a capacity of one hundredweight, provided that in special circumstances the Director of Agriculture may specially permit the importation into these Islands of seed potatoes packed otherwise. Imported seed potatoes to be packed in bags. 5. Each bag used for the packing of seed potatoes imported into these Islands shall conform to the following specifications: Conformity with specifications. (

1. a)it shall be a new bag of a size of not less than fiftyseven point one five centimetres by one hundred and one point six centimetres and made out of cloth raving, a minimum weight of two hundred and eighty-three point five grams for each area of eighty-one point two centimetres by hundred and one point six centimetres; (
2. b)it shall be distinctly marked "SEED POTATOES" in block letters not less than five centimetres in height and it shall likewise be marked distinctly with "the name of the variety of the potatoes it contains and their country of origin. 6. (
3. a)Each bag shall be sealed and shall have attached to it a printed label with the following declaration in the English language: "The seal on this bag indicates that the seed potatoes contained in it are the produce of a certified crop and that prior to shipment they have been examined for quality and grading by *These Regulations have been repealed by Act XXXIV of 2023. Bags to be sealed and labelled. 2 [ S.L.64.01 IMPORTATION OF SEED POTATOES an officer of the Ministry of Agriculture of the country of origin." (
4. b)The label aforesaid shall be attached to the bag in such a manner as to show clearly that it was so attached prior to the affixing of the seal. (
5. c)Where, notwithstanding that the provisions contained in the first two paragraphs of this regulation have been complied with, it is found necessary to sort or repack seed potatoes imported into these Islands, containers shall be used that as far as practicable shall conform to the requirements contained in regulations 4 and 5 of these Regulations and each such container shall be sealed by an Officer of the Department of Agriculture. Inspection by the Department of Agriculture, on arrival of seed potatoes. 7. (
6. a)On arrival in these Islands, every consignment of seed potatoes, though packed in accordance with these Regulations, accompanied by the aforesaid certificate and sealed as aforesaid, may be inspected by an officer of the Department of Agriculture in order that he may ascertain whether the seed potatoes are in a sound condition and fit for use as seed. (
7. b)Should any part of a consignment of seed potatoes imported into these Islands prove to be in an unsound condition or otherwise unfit for use as seed, the Director of Agriculture in his discretion may order the seed potatoes in that consignment to be sorted at the expense of the importer under the supervision of an officer of the Department of Agriculture, with or without disinfection of the potatoes as the Director of Agriculture in his discretion may direct. (
8. c)The Director of Agriculture in his discretion may order that any consignment of seed potatoes imported into these Islands or any part of any such consignment that respectively is found to be in an unsound condition or otherwise unfit for use as seed shall be destroyed or shall be otherwise dealt with as he may deem appropriate, in each case at the expense of the importer. (
9. d)The provisions contained in paragraphs (
10. b)and (
11. c)of this regulation or any of them shall not apply if the importer elects to re-ship the seed potatoes concerned within a time to be determined in each case by the Director of Agriculture. Issue of phytopathological or commercial certificate. S.L. 35.01 8. The Director of Agriculture may on the application of any person and on the payment of the fee prescribed under the Fees Regulations, issue a phytopathological or commercial certificate in respect of any parcel of seed potatoes imported into these Islands or of any part of such a parcel. Applicability. 9. These Regulations are in addition to any provisions of law or other enactment that is or may be in force from time to time, and i n p a r t i c u l a r n o t h i n g i n t h e s e R e g u l a t i o n s s h a l l a ff e c t a n y regulations of a phytopathological character in force or which may IMPORTATION OF SEED POTATOES [ S.L.64.01 be enacted from time to time in virtue of any law. 10. Nothing in these Regulations shall be deemed to affect the importation into these Islands of seed potatoes for use by the Government. Importation by government. 3 4 [ S.L.64.01 IMPORTATION OF SEED POTATOES SCHEDULE (Regulation 3) Certificate of health, quality and origin of potatoes This is to certify that the seed potatoes included in the consignment described below: l. were grown in the district of ............................................. country............................................; 2. are the produce of crops which were inspected during the growing season by inspectors of the Department of Agriculture ................................. and found to be true to type and standard of purity of not less than 97%; 3. were examined by an inspector of the Department of Agriculture................................ and found to be generally healthy and free from: Synchytrium endobioticom Perc.(wart disease of potatoes) Spongospora subterranea Walr.(powdery scab of potatoes) Expitrex cucumeris (potato flea beetle) Doryphora decemlineata (Colorado beetle) and any other serious plant diseases and insect pests; 4. are packed in new sealed bags. Particulars of consignment Name of exporter ........................................................................ Address of exporter .................................................................... Name of consignee...................................................................... Address of consignee .................................................................. Variety ....................................................................................... Number of packages ................................................................... Marks ......................................................................................... Port of shipment ......................................................................... Name of vessel............................................................................ Quantity ..................................................................................... Date of Inspection ...................................................................... SEAL MARK .................................. Signature .......................... Senior Inspector Department of Agriculture ...........................