Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Countryside Stewardship Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/695 as amended by S.I. 1996/1481 and S.I. 1996/3123) (the “principal Regulations”) which (extending to England, including the Isles of Scilly) supplement Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2078/92 on agricultural methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside (OJ No. L 215, 30.7.92, p. 85), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2772/95 (OJ No. L 288, 1.12.95, p. 35), as itself rectified by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1962/96 (OJ No. L 259, 2.10.96, p. 7). Certain agreements covered by this Order are also subject to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 746/96 (OJ No. L 102, 25.4.96, p. 19) laying down detailed rules for the application of the Council Regulation 2078/92, which Commissin Regulation has been amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 435/97 (OJ No. L 67, 7.3.97, p. 2.).

These Regulations amend the payment rates applicable to certain activities in the principal Regulations, revise the payment structure applicable to scrub management and bracken management, and make minor drafting corrections and amendments to the principal Regulations (regulation 2 of these Regulations together with revised Schedule inserted into the principal Regulations thereby).

No Compliance Cost Assessment in relation to these Regulations has been prepared.