Vol. 511 No. 3
177 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the difficulties with the EU rural development regulation which, as result of over-rights, seems set to prevent European farmers from entering into agreements on organic farming until July 2000; and the steps, if any, he has taken to spare farmers and the organic movement from these negative effects. [24584/99]
Programmes approved by the European Commission under the accompanying measures of CAP reform 1992 including the REP scheme will end on 31 December 1999. My Department will be unable to approve applications after that date. I have taken special measures to ensure valid applications submitted by 30 November can be processed and approved before the end of the current scheme.
A new environmental scheme is being drawn up in a rural development plan to be submitted to the commission before the end of December 1999 under the terms of the new council regulation on support for rural development. The proposals envisage continued support for organic farming.
