Amendment to the Common Agricultural Policy (Cross-Compliance) (Scotland) Regulations 201412

In the Schedule, in Part 2 (standards for good agricultural and environmental condition)—

a

in paragraph 1 (establishment of buffer strips along water courses)—

i

in sub-paragraph (5), after “sub-paragraph (6)” insert “or (7)”;

ii

for sub-paragraph (6) substitute—

6

This sub-paragraph applies where pesticides are applied to land to control—

a

injurious weeds to which the Weeds Act 1959 applies;

b

invasive species; or

c

if the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers has been given, other plant species.

iii

after sub-paragraph (6), insert—

7

This sub-paragraph applies where the cultivation of land takes place for the purpose of establishing—

a

a green cover on that land, where it does not already have a green cover; or

b

a hedge (as defined in paragraph 7(7)(a)) during the relevant period.

b

in paragraph 7 (retention of landscape features), for sub-paragraph (6), substitute—

6

This sub-paragraph applies where—

a

the cultivation of land takes place for the purpose of—

i

establishing a green cover on that land, where it does not already have a green cover;

ii

establishing a hedge during the relevant period and, for that purpose, organic manure, chemical or nitrogen fertilisers or pesticides may be applied to the land; or

iii

in calendar year 2015, harvesting any crop that has been established before 1st January 2015;

b

organic manure, chemical or nitrogen fertilisers or pesticides are applied to land prior to the harvesting of a crop as mentioned in head (a)(iii); or

c

pesticides are applied to land to control—

i

injurious weeds to which the Weeds Act 1959 applies;

ii

invasive species; or

iii

if the prior written consent of the Scottish Ministers has been given, other plant species.