These Regulations which extend to Scotland only amend the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme 1997 (S.I. 1997/829) (“the Scheme”) in consequence of the coming into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/99 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (“the Rural Development Regulation”). The Rural Development Regulation applies to Community support as from 1 January 2000 and provides for Community support for rural development measures set out in the Scottish Rural Development Plan (“the Plan”) covering the 7 year period from 1 January 2000.

These Regulations apply to applications for grant under the Scheme made on or after 21 August 2000 and to any applications made before that date in relation to which no approval has been issued where the applicant confirms in writing that they wish their application to be treated as if it were an application made on or after that date (regulation 3).

These Regulations introduce as part of the undertaking required of applicants an undertaking to comply with any requirement by reference to which grant may be paid under the Scheme included in the Plan (regulation 4).