Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 Explanatory Notes

1. Introduction

2. Background and Context

   1. Background on the Common Agricultural policy

   2. Operation of the rules by the Scottish Government since leaving the EU

3. The New Support Framework

4. The Act

   1. Key terminology

   2. Part 1: Objectives and Planning

      1. Section 1 – Overarching objectives of agricultural policy

      2. Section 2 – Rural support plan

      3. Section 3 – Rural support plan: matters to be considered

      4. Section 4 – Rural support plan: engagement

      5. Section 5 – Reports on rural support plan

   3. Part 2: Support for agriculture, rural development and related matters

      1. Section 6 and schedule 1 - Power to provide support and purposes of support

      2. Section 7 – Funding of third Party support

      3. Section 8 - Form of support and conditions

      4. Section 9 - Guidance

      5. Section 10 - Delegation

      6. Section 11 - Power to cap support and assistance

      7. Section 12 - Refusal or recovery of support where in the public interest

      8. Intervention in agricultural markets

         1. Section 13 - Exceptional market conditions: powers available to Scottish Ministers

         2. Section 14 - Declaration relating to exceptional market conditions

      9. Administrative matters, eligibility and enforcement

         1. Section 15 - Regulations about support

         2. Section 16 - Eligibility criteria for support

         3. Section 17 - Payment entitlements

         4. Section 18 - Checking, enforcing and monitoring support

         5. Section 19 - Publication of information about support

         6. Section 20 - Processing of information

         7. Section 21 – Monitoring and evaluation of schemes

   4. Part 3: Powers to modify existing legislation relating to support

      1. Section 22 - Power to simplify, improve or update relevant CAP legislation

      2. Section 23 - Power to continue or end the operation of relevant CAP legislation

      3. Section 24 - Power to modify financial provision in relevant CAP legislation

      4. Section 25 – Repeal of section 5 of ARELDS

      5. Section 26 - Public intervention and private storage aid

      6. Section 27 - Power to modify CAP legislation on aid for fruit and vegetable producer organisations

      7. Section 28 - Apiculture

   5. Part 4: Miscellaneous

      1. Section 29 - Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture

      2. Section 30 - Continuing professional development

      3. Section 31 – Monitoring and evaluation of continuing professional development

      4. Section 32 - Prescribing and regulating means of identifying animals

      5. Section 33 – Food security statements

      6. Section 34 and schedule 2 - Repeals and minor modifications

   6. Part 5: Final provisions

      1. Section 35 - Regulations

      2. Section 36 - Ancillary provision

      3. Section 37 - Interpretation

      4. Section 38 - Commencement

      5. Section 39 - Short title

5. Crown Application

6. Parliamentary History