Article 4 Qualifying period for incentive payments in Great Britain
Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, the qualifying period for incentive payments in respect of a herd in Great Britain shall commence—
in the case of such a herd as is referred to under head (a) of the definition of an accredited herd in paragraph 2 above, on the date of the final test as a result of which it has first become an accredited herd;
in the case of such a herd as is referred to under head (b) of that definition, on the date on which the first animal to be comprised in the herd has been moved on to the premises where the herd is to be kept;
and shall end five years after it has commenced or on 31st March 1976, whichever is the later.
Where in relation to a qualifying day or prescribed date a herd has not been in existence long enough to qualify for subsidy payments under a hill cattle scheme or a beef cow scheme, as the case may be, the qualifying period for the herd shall not commence earlier than one month after that qualifying day or prescribed date.
Where during the qualifying period the making either of incentive payments under this scheme or of equivalent increases in subsidy payments under a beef cow or hill cattle scheme has been temporarily interrupted, or the commencement of such payments or increases has been delayed, as a result of a break in accreditation or in the operation of a brucellosis incentives agreement or other special circumstances, the appropriate Minister may if he thinks fit extend the period by not more than the length of the interruption or delay.