Official Report 121KB pdf
The regulations implement community legislation specifying maximum pesticide levels in crops and food. We received a useful note from the Executive on the background to the regulations. I think that we accept the logic behind them. Does anyone have anything to raise?
No, but the regulations are a good counterpoint to some other examples that we will consider on the question of vires, which can be a very delicate balancing act for the Executive. This instrument has worked—sort of. We will put it into our portfolio of examples of where there might be difficulty in implementing community directives or legislation.
So the Executive should look carefully at how it interacts?
We will try to work out the rationale for the decisions that are being taken in some cases.
Perhaps we should do that in a meeting with civil servants to discuss the interrelationship between European and Scottish legislation. We should put it on record that we would like to hold such a meeting at some point in the future.
Such a meeting would help to clarify things for all of us.
Perhaps we should point out the underlying debate in our report to the lead committee. The question of vires should be drawn to its attention.
I do not know whether the lead committee will be too bothered, but we should be.
It is up to the lead committee once we have drawn that point to its attention.