S.I. No. 273/1999 - Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 1) Regulations, 1999

I, BRIAN COWEN, Minister for Health and Children, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 (No. 12 of 1977), as adapted by the Health (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 308 of 1977 ), hereby make the following Regulations:—

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 1) Regulations, 1999.

2. These Regulations shall be construed as one with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 1988 and 1993 and may be cited together with those Regulations as the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 1988 to 1999.

3. Regulation 11 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 1988 ( S.I. No. 328 of 1988 ) is hereby amended by the addition of the following sub-paragraph to paragraph (1) thereof—

(h) an official of the Department of Agriculture and Food, engaged, in his official capacity as such, in the work of sampling for analysis of crops of Cannabis sativa L, for the purpose of Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 1164/89 of 28 April 1989 laying down detailed rules for the aid for fibre flax and hemp (OJ No. L 121, 29.04.1989, p4) as amended.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The purpose of these Regulations is to confer authority on certain inspectors, in the Department of Agriculture and Food, to lawfully possess Cannabis (hemp) in the course of their duties while monitoring and sampling for the purpose of the relevant EU scheme involving the grant of aid for the production of hemp fibre.