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EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of these Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3286) (“the 2005 Regulations”) in order to transpose—

(a) Commission Directive 2007/55/EC amending certain Annexes to Council Directives 76/895/EEC, 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for azinphos-methyl (OJ No L 243, 18.9.2007, p. 41);

(b) Commission Directive 2007/56/EC amending certain Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, deltamethrin, hexachlorobenzene, ioxynil, oxamyl and quinoxyfen (OJ No L 243, 18.9.2007, p. 50);

(c) Commission Directive 2007/57/EC amending certain Annexes to Council Directives 76/895/EEC, 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for dithiocarbamates (OJ No L 243, 18.9.2007, p. 61); and

(d) Commission Directive 2007/62/EC amending certain Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for bifenazate, pethoxamid, pyrimethanil and rimsulfuron (OJ No L 260, 5.10.2007, p. 4).

These Regulations substitute or insert—

(a) residue definitions for certain pesticides in Schedule 1 to the 2005 Regulations which identify the pesticide residues that are taken into account in the measuring of residue levels for each pesticide; and

(b) maximum residue levels for certain pesticides in Schedule 2 to the 2005 Regulations.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) was prepared for the 2005 Regulations and provides a basis for establishing the impact of amendments of the kind made by these Regulations. A consultation in 2003 indicated that compliance costs were virtually unchanged from those quoted in an RIA prepared in 1999. Copies of the RIA prepared in 2005 can be obtained from the Pesticides Safety Directorate, Room 308, Mallard House, Kings Pool, 3 Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PX or via the website www.pesticides.gov.uk. Copies have been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.