Explanatory Leaflet for the Inspection of Growing Crops of English & Welsh Seed Potatoes
Fera has published The Revised English & Welsh SPCS Explanatory Leaflet and this can be found at
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/publications/documents/spcsGuide0412.pdfThis guide gives some details regarding the measures mentioned in the 2012 Dear Grower Letter aimed at streamlining the administration of the scheme. It also details the revised procedure on burn-down requirements. In view of a recent legal decision on Tuber inspections at section 11 Fera give 2 links, one to the standards applicable to seed produced in England and Wales and the other to the standards applicable to seed produced outside of England and Wales.Fera is concerned that all should have received information directly with regard to the revision of Fees and Charges but just to ensure you have this information, the new Fees and Charges are set out at http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/fees/index.cfm The SPCS fees are at the bottom of the page.Fera has asked that all entries are made in the correct applicant name, this is particularly pertinent for protected varieties that need to be entered in the name of the maintainer, Fera cannot subsequently change the applicant details and so if varieties need to be entered in the name of the maintainer it is important that this is done correctly in the first instance. Also, if applicants wish to give permission for others to apply for SPCS labels (e.g. maintainer/applicants giving permission to individual growers to directly apply for labels), you must ensure this is clearly indicated when the crop application is submitted.