Diolch, Llywydd. I move the motion. The Seed Potatoes (Wales) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019—the 2019 regulations—will ensure we have a functioning statute book in Wales and domestic legislation and that the field of the marketing of seed potatoes continues to operate effectively following the UK's exit from the EU. The instrument makes no policy changes other than those necessary to ensure such continued operation.

The 2019 regulations make amendments to the Seed Potatoes (Wales) Regulations 2016. The Seed Potatoes (Wales) Regulations 2016—the 2016 regulations—implement the main EU rules prescribing marketing standards for seed potatoes, ensuring minimum quality standards and traceability for marketed seed and propagating material. The 2019 regulations are drafted to ensure continuity of supply and marketing of EU seed potatoes in Wales for an interim period after withdrawal.

Should the UK leave the EU without a negotiated agreement, UK-produced seed potatoes will not be marketable in the EU. The UK is a net importer of seed potatoes from the EU and Switzerland. If the UK stopped accepting EU seed potatoes immediately after exit, it would jeopardise seed potato supply for some significant crops and it would be difficult for the industry to adapt quickly. To avoid financial loss, the 2019 regulations also permit a one-year period for existing stocks of pre-printed official EU certification labels to be used up. 

In the field of seed potatoes, further changes made by this instrument include inserting a definition for Crown dependencies and a provision allowing the Welsh Ministers to recognise Crown dependencies' legislation where appropriate as having equivalent effect to Wales's marketing legislation to allow Crown dependencies access to the UK internal market.