Organic Farming Aid (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Organic Farming Aid Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 (“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.

These Regulations implement as respects Northern Ireland 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.

The Regulations—

(a) provide that entitlement to payment under the principal Regulations is subject to the provisions of Article 10 and Article 20(3) of Commission Regulation 746/96,

(b) make provision to enable the Department to recover grant and impose penalties in accordance with Articles 11, 12 and 20 of Commission Regulation 746/96,

(c) set a rate of interest where recovery of money is to include interest in accordance with Article 20(1) of Commission Regulation 746/96.

The Regulations form part of a package submitted to the Commission under Article 23 of Commission Regulation 746/96.

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