The Set-Aside (Amendment) Regulations 1989

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Set-Aside Regulations 1988, implementing Title 01 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 797/85 (OJ No. L93, 30.3.85, p. 1) on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures, as amended by Council Regulations (EEC) No. 1760/87 (OJ No. L167, 26.6.87, p. 1) and 1094/88 (OJ No. L106, 27.4.88, p. 28) as regards the set-aside of arable land, and Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 1272/88 (OJ No. L121, 11.5.88, p. 36), which laid down detailed rules for the set-aside of arable land.

The Regulations–

(a) add to the list of relevant arable crops (regulation 8);

(b) widen the definition of “arable land” to include rotational fallow (regulation 3(a));

(c) provide that temporary grassland may be set aside in certain circumstances (regulation 4), and make consequential amendments (regulations 3(b), (d) and (f), 5 and 7);

(d) provide that the area of land set aside and eligible for payments of aid must not exceed an area equal in size to the relevant arable land on the holding in the reference period (regulation 4(a));

(e) insert a definition of “grazing land” (regulation 3(c));

(f) enable the appropriate Minister to authorise the application of inorganic fertilisers on set-aside land in certain circumstances (regulation 9);

(g) make some minor drafting amendments (regulations 3(e), 4 and 6).