Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. These regulations make amendments to the Plant Health (Wales) Order 2018 and Plant Health etc. (Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2018. These regulations will ensure that plant health legislation in Wales, which implements current EU protective measures against the introduction and spread of organisms harmful to plants or plant products remains effective after the UK leaves the EU in a 'no deal' scenario. Much of these regulations correct deficiencies in domestic legislation, which implements the plant health directive arising from the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Changes ensure plant material can continue to be imported safely into Wales and move safely within the country following EU exit, including the continued import of plant material from EU member states and Switzerland.

Material that hosts the most serious pests and diseases requires an EU plant passport to facilitate its movement. Plants and plant products currently managed under the EU plant passport regime when moving to Wales from EU member states and Switzerland will be subject to import controls that will replace the assurance and traceability that the EU plant passport regime offers. These regulations also transpose provisions in relation to the planting of certain species: potatoes, tomatoes and other plants of the nightshade family and the control of relevant plant pests. Finally, these regulations also make consequential amendments to the existing fees set out in the Plant Health Etc. (Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2018, removing references to EU legislation, thus ensuring legal operability post exit.