The Direct Payments to Farmers (Crop Diversification Derogation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2020 No. 75

Agriculture

The Direct Payments to Farmers (Crop Diversification Derogation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

30th April 2020

Coming into operation

30th April 2020

Approved by resolution of the Assembly on

19th May 2020

Laid before the Assembly

1st May 2020

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 69(1) of Regulation (EU) 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy(1)(“Regulation (EU) 1307/2013”) makes these Regulations.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is of the opinion that, in order to resolve problems arising from severe rainfall in Northern Ireland, it is necessary and justifiable in Northern Ireland to derogate from the provisions of Regulation (EU) 1307/2013 for claim year 2020 as regards the crop diversification requirements, the extent and period of that derogation being, in the opinion of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, strictly necessary.

PART 1INTRODUCTORY

Citation, Commencement and Interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Direct Payments to Farmers (Crop Diversification Derogation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and come into operation on 30th April 2020.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(2) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

PART 2CROP DIVERSIFICATION DEROGATION

Derogation from the crop diversification requirements

2.  Articles 43(2)(a) and 44 of Regulation (EU) 1307/2013(3) do not apply in respect of claim year 2020.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on the 30th April 2020.

Legal seal

Seamus McErlean

A senior officer of the

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make derogations from Regulation (EU) 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy. Under these Regulations, the crop diversification requirements are disapplied in Northern Ireland for claim year 2020.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

Regulation (EU) 1307/2013 was incorporated into domestic law by the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 (c. 2). Article 69(1) was substituted by regulation 7(2)(a) of S.I. 2020/91.

(3)

Articles 43 and 44 were amended by regulation 5(15) and (16) respectively of S.I. 2020/91.