221Rules may provide for voluntary accreditation of advisers etc.

221 Rules may provide for voluntary accreditation of advisers etc.

(1) The rules may make provision for and in relation to the voluntary accreditation of persons who give advice, or otherwise provide assistance, in relation to any of the following: (a) the operation of this Act; (b) the carrying out of biodiversity projects; (c) the trading of biodiversity certificates. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), rules made for the purposes of that subsection may do any of the following: (a) make it a condition of accreditation that a person pass a test relating to the person’s knowledge of the scheme for biodiversity stewardship established by this Act; (b) make it a condition of accreditation that a person be a fit and proper person to hold the accreditation; (c) set fees for applications under the rules. (3) A fee set under paragraph (2)(c) must not be such as to amount to taxation. (4) Rules made for the purposes of subsection (1) must not require a person to be accredited in order to engage in an activity referred to in a paragraph of subsection (1).