Extensification Payment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, which come into operation on 27th April 2001, lay down implementing measures for the extensification payment scheme introduced by Article 13 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1254/1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal (O.J. No. L160, 26.6.1999, p. 21) for beef producers who comply with certain stocking density requirements. The Regulations prescribe rules for the administration of the scheme in relation to holdings in Northern Ireland and also holdings situated partly in Northern Ireland and partly elsewhere in the United Kingdom, where the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for processing the farmer’s claim for extensification payments (regulations 4 to 8). They also lay down enforcement provisions in relation to holdings or parts of holdings in Northern Ireland (regulations 9 to 16).

The rules relating to administration provide for the two Community methods of calculating stocking density (regulation 4), require producers to supply information in support of their claims (regulation 5), define “pasture land” for the purposes of the scheme (regulation 6) and provide for withholding or recovery of extensification payments where there is a breach of the rules of the scheme (regulations 7 and 8).

The enforcement provisions confer powers of entry, inspection and collection of evidence on authorised persons (regulations 9 to 13). These include the powers required under Article 6 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 3887/92 laying down detailed rules for applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes (O.J. No. L391, 31.12.92, p. 36, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2721/2000 (O.J. No. L314, 14.12.2000, p. 8)). Regulations 14 to 16 deal with offences and penalties.