Regulation 2 Amendment of section 18 of the Agriculture Act 1986

In section 18 of the Agriculture Act 1986^f1 (designation and management of environmentally sensitive areas), after subsection (4) there shall be inserted–

“(4A)

Where the Minister considers it necessary for the purposes of Article 10 or 20 of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 746/96 (aid for agricultural production methods compatible with protection of the environment: combination of aids, and penalties), an agreement under subsection (3) may contain–

(a)

provision requiring the payment of penalties to the Minister in the case of breach of the agreement, and

(b)

provision for payments by the Minister to be withheld in specified circumstances.”.