The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross-compliance) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross-compliance) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/3280 (W. 284)). Those Regulations make provision in Wales for the administration and enforcement of cross-compliance under Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (OJ No L270, 21.10.2003, p.1) (“the Council Regulation”) and Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004 (OJ No L141, 30.04.2004, p.18) (“the Commission Regulation”) in relation to the system of income support schemes which came into force on 1 January 2005.

These Regulations:

(a) define the list of agri-environment commitments (which take precedence over cross-compliance standards and requirements) to include all relevant commitments (regulation 3(a));

(b) amend the definition of “authorised person” (regulation 3(b));

(c) update the definitions of the Council and Commission Regulations to take into account amendments to those Regulations, and add a definition of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2006 (regulation 3(c — e));

(d) amend the interpretation provisions so that a reference to a Community instrument is a reference to that instrument as may be amended at any point in the future (regulation 4),

(e) designate the Secretary of State as the competent control authority in relation to statutory management requirements numbers 16 to 18 of Annex III of the Council Regulation on animal welfare (regulation 5);

(f) add to the powers of inspectors in order to provide for inspections relating to animal welfare requirements which apply to farmers from 1st January 2007 (regulation 5);

(g) amend the provisions as to post-harvest management of land (regulation 6).

A regulatory appraisal has been prepared for this statutory instrument. Copies can be obtained from the Department of Environment, Planning and Countryside, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.