Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Organic Aid (Scotland) Regulations 1994 (“the principal Regulations”) which implement in part Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2078/92 (“the Council Regulation”) on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside.

The amendments made by these regulations adapt the principal Regulations to conform to the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 746/96 (“the Commission Regulation”) laying down detailed rules for the application of the Council Regulation and in particular Articles 10 (combination of aids) Article 11 (transfer of holding), Article 12 (force majeure), and Article 20 (reimbursement of aid and penalties) of the Commission Regulation. In accordance with Article 23 of the Commission Regulation, the amendments apply to undertakings given under the principal Regulations prior to 1st January 1997 but only in respect of action taken and events occurring from that date (regulations 3(a) and (b), 4, 7(b), 8, 9 and 10).

These Regulations make drafting amendments to the principal Regulations in response to the comments made in relation to those Regulations by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments in its 26th Report of the Session 1993-94 (HL Paper 89; HC 19-xxvii) (regulations 3(c) and (d), 5, 6, 7(a) and 11).