PVS: Consultations
Consultation on possibilities for better regulation in plant varieties, seeds and seed potatoes
Defra
Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division
White House Lane, Huntingdon Road
Cambridge, CB3 0LF
Tel: 01223 342375
Fax: 01223 342386
Website: www.defra.gov.uk
Date: 11 December 2006
Dear Consultee
The UK National Authorities are committed to reducing the burdens imposed by their regulations and this consultation is seeking your views on how this can be achieved in the plant varieties, seeds and seed potato area, whilst ensuring that adequate protection measures are in place for farmers.
The current regulatory framework for national listing, seed and seed potato certification is based largely on 40-year old directives. Over this time the needs of the industry have greatly changed e.g. CAP reform. We believe that we have achieved as much as we can in the UK within the existing legislative framework to improve the way in which we deliver services to industry and need now to look towards fundamental change at Community level to open up further opportunities to liberalise the legislative framework in which we operate. You will appreciate that this will be a protracted process.
The central principles of better regulation are the need for proportionality so that required regulatory outcomes are achieved without hindering economic development and that regulatory procedures are necessary and fit for purpose. Explanations of the background and rationale for our better regulation suggestions are outlined in this consultation paper. We wish to establish, with your help, what the UK’s priorities should be for any reform in the seed and seed potato sector. This consultation makes some suggestions on where better regulation principles might be applied but we are also keen to get your views on any other areas you think should be addressed. For example, if new schemes for national listing, seed and seed potato certification or plant breeders’ rights were being set up in the future, how would you like these schemes to operate?
If you would like to comment on these proposals, please respond in writing, by e-mail, post or fax, no later than 5 March 2007 to:
Fran Foster Defra Plant Varieties and Seeds Division White House Lane Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0LF |
Tel: 01223 342375 |
In line with Defra's policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period, copies of the responses we receive may be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR. The information they contain may also be published in a summary of responses.
If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in email responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which Defra will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, inorder to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations.
The Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or e-mail requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk). Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours' notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
Any comments or complaints about the consultation process (as opposed to comments about the issues which are the subject of the consultation) should be addressed to Marjorie Addo, Defra’s Consultation Co-ordinator, Area 7B, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P or email consultation.coordinator@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Thank you for your help in this matter. If you have any queries please contact us as above.
Yours faithfully
Siobhan Costello
Head of Policy Team
Plant Varieties and Seeds Division
Page last modified: 15 January 2008
Page published: 15 January 2008