Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 1st March 2000 and extend only to England, close to further applications two schemes under which grants may be made for agricultural purposes. The Regulations establishing these schemes supplemented Community legislation which is now repealed subject to certain transitional provisions.

The first scheme is that which was established by the Agricultural Processing and Marketing Grant Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/362) and enables grants to be made towards investments or projects which fulfil objectives relating to improving the processing and marketing conditions of agricultural products.

The second scheme is that which was established under the Rural Development Grants (Agricultural) (No. 2) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/2202) as amended by the Rural Development Grants (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/2394), and enables grants to be made towards operations which promote rural development by facilitating the development and structural adjustment of certain rural areas.

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.