Proposed changes to fees for statutory plant health services provided by the Animal and Plant Health Agency in England and Wales

Overview

We are seeking views on proposed changes to the charging structure and fees for the following plant health services provided by the Animal and Plant Health Agency in England and Wales:

• Inspection of imported plants and plant material and sampling and testing of potatoes imported from Egypt and the Lebanon;
• Seed potato certification;
• Plant passporting;
• Export certification;
• Plant health licensing and
• Certification of fruit propagating material.

The proposals are about changing how we charge for these services. The scope and nature of these services is not changing and they will continue their important role of protecting the health of our crops, produce, trees and plants.

The consultation also seeks information about the impact of the proposals on businesses, including small or micro-businesses.

What happens next

At the end of the consultation period we will summarise the responses and place this summary on the Government website at www.gov.uk/defra.

The summary will include a list of names and organisations that responded but not personal names, addresses or other contact details. Information provided in response to this consultation, including personal information, may be subject to publication or release to other parties or to disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Data Protection Act 1998.

If you want information, including personal data, that you provide to be treated as confidential, please say so clearly in writing in your response to the consultation, why you need to keep these details confidential. If we receive a request for disclosure under the FOIA, we will take account of your explanation, but we cannot provide assurance that confidentiality will be maintained in all circumstances. Please note, if your computer automatically includes a confidentiality disclaimer, this will not count as a confidentiality request.