The proposed amending regulation presented by the Commission is focused on simplification to reduce the burden on farmers and to provide flexibility to member states to address issues affecting farmers arising from climatic conditions or other adverse weather events.
While there are changes to the good agricultural and environmental conditions, GAECs, my Department, like all ministries across Europe, must apply these standards at an appropriate level for our own national situation to protect our natural resources, including soil health, air and water quality, habitats and biodiversity. The changes proposed include moving the requirement to have a minimum share of land devoted to non-productive features, from GAEC 8, into eco schemes. That was one of the proposals approved. Already in Ireland we build on the basic GAEC 8 standard requirement in our eco scheme and we have implemented a more ambitious space for nature requirement than the minimum required. The majority of farmers chose to back this ambition, picking an enhanced space for nature as their eco scheme practice. Over 100,000 farmers chose to go to a full 10% devoted to space for nature on their farms. Other changes proposed include adjustments to GAECs 5, 6, 7 and 9 allowing member states more flexibility in order to address specific problems in the application of those GAEC standards. On GAEC 7 on crop rotation and diversification requirements for the tillage sector, flexibility is required given the weather conditions.
While an exemption for farmers with less than 10 ha from controls and penalties under conditionality is also proposed, it is crucial to understand that all the legal obligations on these farmers would still apply. Any breach of the laws regarding pollution, habitat destruction and hedgerow removal will continue to be prosecuted by the competent authorities. The experts in my Department have carefully considered the proposed changes and I believe the proposal will provide more flexibility for farmers, while still maintaining the objectives of those standards. Irish farmers have demonstrated their commitment to the environment and have committed themselves to a range of environmental actions including through eco schemes and our results-based environmental scheme, ACRES. It is my intention to ensure that Ireland’s CAP strategic plan continues to back farmers and support them to meet their environmental commitments.