Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

THE PLANT HEALTH (GREAT BRITAIN) ORDER 1993

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF DEMARCATED ZONES FOR THE CONTROL OF RALSTONIA SOLANACEARUM (SMITH) YABUUCHI ET AL

The presence of Ralstonia Solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al., the bacterium which causes brown rot, has not been found to be present in samples of surface water taken pursuant to paragraph 4.2(a)(ab) of Annex VI to Directive 98/57/EC of 20 July 1998, on the control of potato brown rot (“the Directive”). I, Brian Ellam, being an Inspector authorised by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the purposes of the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/1320) as amended (“the Order”), give notice that I have withdrawn the following demarcated zones (“the zones”) in accordance with paragraph 3 of article 23A of the Order (article 23A was inserted by the Plant Health (Amendment) (England) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/2126)). Hogwell sewer, Kent-entire length; Willow Brook, Northamptonshire-entire length; River Ise, Northamptonshire-from Wicksteed Park (Grid Ref SP883763) to its confluence with the River Nene (Grid Ref SP908671); River Nene, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire-from its confluence with the River Ise (Grid Ref SP908671) to Lilford Bridge (Grid Ref TL027838). The withdrawal of the zones revokes the previous notices dated 19 July 2000 and 18 December 2000 (Refs 2/2000 and 3/2000), only to the extent of their references and descriptions of the zones. For the avoidance of doubt, the separate River Nene demarcated zone from Lilford Bridge (Grid Ref TL027838) to the Dog in a Doublet sluice (Grid Ref TL272993) contained in Notice 2/2000, remains unchanged. The withdrawal of the zones takes effect from 31 March 2003. From 31 March 2003, the provisions of paragraph 11 of Schedule 13A to the Order (Schedule 13A was also inserted by S.I. 1999/2126) shall cease to apply to the zones. The areas of surface water which were designated as contaminated and to which the prohibition on irrigation and spraying of potato and tomato crops in paragraph 11(b)(i) to (iii) of Schedule 13A to the Order applied, are therefore no longer designated. Further sampling of surface water from the zones will take place in 2003 pursuant to Article 2 of the Directive. If these samples, or samples taken in subsequent years, confirm the presence of Ralstonia Solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al., the Secretary of State may reintroduce the zones wholly or in part. Further guidance is available from the Plant Health Division of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Foss House, King’s Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX (tel 01904 455171). Ref 1c/2003. B Ellam, Inspector (Ref 1c/2003) March 2003.