Explanatory note

These Regulations make amendments to various rules regarding the operation and management of rural development schemes originally established pursuant to Regulation EUR 1999/1257, EUR 2005/1698 and Regulation EUR 2013/1305. The amendments align these rural development schemes more closely with equivalent schemes established under the Agriculture Act 2020 (c. 21). They also remove requirements that are no longer necessary following the removal of cross-compliance rules from 1st January 2024.

These Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply in relation to England only.

Regulation 2(2) removes the requirement on the relevant authority to give advice regarding water quality and pesticide management rules under the farm advisory system known as the farming advice service that was linked to a requirement to give advice on cross-compliance rules.

Regulation 2(3) amends the currency of a maximum threshold amount from EUR to £. The relevant authority may decide not to pursue recovery in respect of an undue payment, following the occurrence of irregularity or negligence, in relation to an amount that does not exceed this threshold.

Regulation 2(4) amends rules relating to payments to allow for quarterly payments to be made to agreement holders. Previously, agreement holders were restricted to two payments per year.

Regulation 3 amends a rule relating to payment claims to give agreement holders greater flexibility in submitting annual claim declarations. Previously, payment claims had to be submitted by the 15th May each year.

Regulation 4 removes requirements relating to the competent control authority as this authority is obsolete following the removal of cross-compliance rules.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.