These Regulations provide for the implementation of Articles 13(a), 14(1), 14(2) first and second indents, and 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 (O.J. No. L160, 26.06.1999, p. 80) together with Articles 36(a)(ii) and 51(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 (O.J. No. L277, 21.10.2005, p. 1), in so far as those Council Regulations relate to less favoured areas.

These Regulations also provide for the implementation of Measure 2.1 of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme.

Commission Decision C(2009) 9927 approved a revision to the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme and amended Commission Decision C(2007) 4411 originally approving it.

The Regulations define the conditions of eligibility for less favoured area compensatory allowances (regulations 3 to 6) and the rates at which it is to be paid (regulation 7 and Schedule 2).

Regulation 8 provides for the exclusion of forage area in respect of claimants who held milk quota at 31 March 2009.

Regulation 9 confers powers of entry and inspection on persons authorised by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (“the Department”).

Regulations 10 and 11 grant the Department powers to withhold or recover payments and take certain other action in the event of a breach of an undertaking given by a beneficiary under these Regulations and in certain other circumstances.

Regulation 12 provides for the recovery of interest on sums recovered.

Regulation 14 creates offences of making false or misleading statements and of obstructing persons authorised by the Department.

Regulation 15 contains a consequential amendment.

The Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme, and the revision thereto, together with a copy of Commission Decisions C(2007) 4411 and C(2009) 9927 are available for inspection at the offices of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 3SB.