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The Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Draft. This instrument was laid in draft and may differ from the one made. Look for the made version under its title.

Draft 2022, ISBN 9780338017543

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

Draft Regulations laid before the Assembly under section 50(6) of the Agriculture Act 2020 for approval

Agriculture

Made 00st January 2022

Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1(1)

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 50(3) of, and paragraphs 2 and 5 of Schedule 6 to, the Agriculture Act 2020f1.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2020 c. 21.

Contents

  1. Part 1: Preliminary
  2. 1Citation, commencement and interpretation
  3. Part 2: National or regional reserve
  4. 2Amendment to the Direct Payments Regulation
  5. Part 3: Transfer of payment entitlements
  6. 3Amendment of the Direct Payments Regulation
  7. Part 4: Payment for young farmers
  8. 4Amendment of the Direct Payments Regulation
  9. Signature
  10. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and interpretation

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Direct Payments to Farmers (Simplifications) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 and come into operation on the day following the day on which they are made.

(2)

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954f1 shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(3)

In these Regulations —

  • “the Direct Payments Regulation” means Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of 17 December 2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 637/2008 and Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009f2.

2Amendment to the Direct Payments Regulation

(1)

The Direct Payments Regulation is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 30 after paragraph 11 insert —

“12.

A farmer as defined in Article 4(1)(a) who has submitted an application and been unsuccessful in obtaining entitlements from the national or regional reserve under paragraph 6, 7a or 7b in three or more scheme years shall no longer be eligible to be allocated entitlements from the national or regional reserve under paragraph 6, 7a or 7b.

A young farmer as defined in Article 50(2) who has submitted an application and has been unsuccessful in obtaining entitlements from the national or regional reserve under paragraph 6, 7a or 7b in three or more scheme years shall no longer be eligible to be allocated entitlements from the national or regional reserve under paragraph 6, 7a or 7b.”

3Amendment of the Direct Payments Regulation

(1)

The Direct Payments Regulation is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 30 after paragraph (10a) insert—

“(10b)

After the application of paragraph (10a), the number of payment entitlements to be allocated to a farmer shall be reduced by the number of entitlements temporarily transferred out by that farmer and by the number of entitlements permanently transferred out by that farmer in the scheme year of application and the previous 2 scheme years, provided those scheme years relate to 2022 or later.”

4Amendment of the Direct Payments Regulation

(1)

The Direct Payments Regulation is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 50, in paragraph 5, after the second subparagraph insert —

“Notwithstanding a change in the head of holding, a farmer as defined in Article 4(1)(a) shall not receive the payment for young farmers for a total period greater than 5 years.”

Signature

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on xx xxxx 2021

Rosemary Agnew

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 50(3) and Schedule 6 paragraphs 2, and 5 of the Agriculture Act 2020 (c. 21) in order to make provision in retained EU law governing the direct payment schemes.

Part 2 amends the Direct Payments Regulation to limit to 3, the number of times an applicant and the number of times a farm business can submit an application to the Regional Reserve.

Part 3 amends the Direct Payments Regulation to reduce the number of payment entitlements to be allocated to a farmer by the number of entitlements temporarily transferred out by that farmer and by the number of entitlements permanently transferred out by that farmer in the scheme year of application and the previous 2 scheme years, provided those scheme years relate to 2022 or later.

Part 4 amends the Direct Payments Regulation to limit to 5 years the length of time a farm business can receive the young farmers payment even if there is a change in the head of holding during that period.