The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”), which introduce measures to supplement Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p.1), as amended, (“the Council Regulation”) laying down general rules governing Community support for rural development (financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development established by Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 (OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p.1)) and Commission Regulations (EC) No 1974/2006 (OJ L 368, 23.12.2006, p.15) and 65/2011 (OJ L 25, 28.1.2011, p.8) laying down detailed rules for the application of the Council Regulation.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations amends option 75 (erosion control) in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 2008 Regulations to remove the condition that a beneficiary may make a maximum of one claim in any one year and a maximum of 5 claims during the period of their contract.

Regulation 4 of these Regulations amends option 80 (open grazed grassland management for chough) in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 2008 Regulations to—

• clarify that livestock must only be treated with non-Avermectin based drugs unless advised by a veterinary surgeon and with the prior agreement from the Scottish Ministers;

• change the latest date for cutting silage to 30th June; and

• add a new condition requiring that hay and silage be cut in a wildlife friendly manner.

No Business or Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared for this instrument as it has no impact on the cost of business.