Organic Farming Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001

Aid for organic farming

3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of regulations 6 and 7, the Department may make payments of aid in accordance with these Regulations—

(a) in respect of an organic parcel, to any person who is a beneficiary in respect of that organic parcel; and

(b) in respect of an organic unit, to any person who is a beneficiary in respect of an organic parcel comprised in that organic unit;

provided that, in relation to any payment in respect of any given year, the beneficiary has made a claim for payment in respect of that year in accordance with regulation 9, and has supplied such further information and evidence in relation to that claim as the Department reasonably may direct to be supplied.

(2) If, following the receipt of an application made in accordance with regulation 9 and such information and evidence as the Department reasonably may direct to be supplied, it appears to the Department that the applicant satisfies the conditions of eligibility specified in regulation 5 in respect of all, some or any one of the organic parcels that are the subject of that application (“the eligible organic parcels”), the Department shall, subject to regulations 6, 7 and 8, accept the application with respect of the eligible organic parcel or parcels and notify the applicant in writing of the acceptance and the date from which aid shall become payable in respect of the eligible organic parcel or parcels.

(3) An application may be withdrawn by a notice in writing given by the applicant at any time before the application is accepted by the Department.

(4) A claim for the payment of aid shall be made at such time as the Department may reasonably direct.

(5) A payment of aid made by the Department to a beneficiary pursuant to these Regulations may be made at any time during the year in respect of which the payment in question is to be made.