The Organic Aid (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

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

The Regulations provide as regards arable land that aid shall be payable only in respect of such land eligible under the Arable Area Payments Regulations 1996 (“eligible arable land”)(regulation 4). They increase the maximum area in respect of which aid may be paid from 300 hectares per holding to 1,000 hectares per holding (regulation 5). Within that maximum, payment may not be made in respect of more than 300 hectares of eligible arable land or improved grassland, taken together or separately.

The Regulations provide rates of payment of aid in respect of eligible arable land and improved grassland as set out in the Schedule below and make minor drafting changes (regulation 6). The new Schedule omits provision for the payment of an additional £30 per hectare in respect of the first 5 hectares of land entered into the scheme established by the principal Regulations. In any case where the new provisions when applied to an undertaking entered into before the date of coming into force of these Regulations would result in the payment of a lesser sum than would formerly have been payable under the principal Regulations the sum due is increased to that which would formerly have been payable (regulation 3(2) and (3)).

The amendments made by these Regulations were approved by Commission Decision C(1999)2202 of 9th August 1999.

SCHEDULE

Rate of payment in respect of eligible arable Land	Old Rate per/ha	New rate per/ha
(a) First year	£70	£150
(b) Second year	£70	£150
(c) Third year	£50	£50
(d) Fourth year	£35	£50
(e) Fifth year	£25	£40

Rate of payment in respect of improved grassland	Old Rate per/ha	New rate per/ha
(a) First year	£70	£120
(b) Second year	£70	£120
(c) Third year	£50	£50
(d) Fourth year	£35	£50
(e) Fifth year	£25	£30
Rate of payment in respect of rough grazing or unimproved grassland		No change