Regulation 12 Amendment to the Common Agricultural Policy (Cross-Compliance) (Scotland) Regulations 2014

In the Schedule, in Part 2 (standards for good agricultural and environmental condition)—

(a)

in paragraph 1 (establishment of buffer strips along water courses)—

(i)

in sub-paragraph (5), after “sub-paragraph (6)” insert “or (7)”;

(ii)

for sub-paragraph (6) substitute—

“(6)

This sub-paragraph applies where pesticides are applied to land to control—

(a)

injurious weeds to which the Weeds Act 1959 applies;

(b)

invasive species; or

(c)

if the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers has been given, other plant species.”; and

(iii)

after sub-paragraph (6), insert—

“(7)

This sub-paragraph applies where the cultivation of land takes place for the purpose of establishing—

(a)

a green cover on that land, where it does not already have a green cover; or

(b)

a hedge (as defined in paragraph 7(7)(a)) during the relevant period.”; and

(b)

in paragraph 7 (retention of landscape features), for sub-paragraph (6), substitute—

“(6)

This sub-paragraph applies where—

(a)

the cultivation of land takes place for the purpose of—

(i)

establishing a green cover on that land, where it does not already have a green cover;

(ii)

establishing a hedge during the relevant period and, for that purpose, organic manure, chemical or nitrogen fertilisers or pesticides may be applied to the land; or

(iii)

in calendar year 2015, harvesting any crop that has been established before 1st January 2015;

(b)

organic manure, chemical or nitrogen fertilisers or pesticides are applied to land prior to the harvesting of a crop as mentioned in head (a)(iii); or

(c)

pesticides are applied to land to control—

(i)

injurious weeds to which the Weeds Act 1959 applies;

(ii)

invasive species; or

(iii)

if the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers has been given, other plant species.”.