Agriculture Act 2020

Exceptional market conditions: powers available to DAERA

8 (1) Where DAERA considers that—

(a) there is a severe disturbance in agricultural markets or a serious threat of a severe disturbance in agricultural markets, and

(b) the disturbance or threatened disturbance has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on agricultural producers in Northern Ireland in terms of the prices achievable for one or more agricultural products,

DAERA may give, or agree to give, financial assistance to agricultural producers in Northern Ireland whose incomes are being, or are likely to be, adversely affected by the disturbance in agricultural markets.

(2) DAERA may also make such use as DAERA considers appropriate of any available powers under retained direct EU legislation which provides for the operation of public intervention and aid for private storage mechanisms, as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, financial assistance under sub-paragraph (1).

(3) Financial assistance under sub-paragraph (1) may be given by way of grant, loan or guarantee or in any other form.

(4) The financial assistance may be given subject to such conditions as DAERA considers appropriate.

(5) The conditions may (among other things) include provision under which the financial assistance is to be repaid or otherwise made good (with or without interest).

(6) In this paragraph a reference to agricultural markets, agricultural products or agricultural producers includes horticultural markets, horticultural products or horticultural producers (as the case may be).