Explanatory note

consolidate regulation 2 of the principal Regulations, while introducing the new definitions of “area aid application”, “field identification check” and “IACS year” (regulation 3);

introduce a new regulation 2A in the principal Regulations, requiring that area aid applications for any IACS year be submitted by the 15th May immediately preceding the IACS year in question; this fulfils the obligation upon Member States to set such a date, contained in Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3508/92, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 2446/96 (OJ No. L335, 24.12.96, p.1) (regulation 4);

extend the powers of authorised persons contained in regulation 6 of the principal Regulations to include the carrying out of a field identification check (being the verification, etc. made further to application to a competent authority by a farmer for the allocation of new field identification numbers or, in Scotland, for the updating of any such number or of a field boundary) (regulation 5);

amend regulation 8(2) and (4) of the principal Regulations so as to take account of certain changes made by the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/2795) (regulation 6(a));

create offences of knowingly, or recklessly, furnishing false or misleading information for the purpose of having a new identification number allocated to one’s field or, in Scotland, of having such a number, or a field boundary, updated, and prescribe a penalty; and make a consequential amendment (regulation 6(b) and (c)).