Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
359 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of the appeal for the single payment scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28868/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined in his application did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. Following this decision, the person named submitted an appeal to the independent single payment appeals committee. It was noted that additional medical evidence was submitted with his appeal and consequently his application is being reviewed by the single payment unit. The person will be notified shortly of the outcome of his appeal.
360 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of achieving cross-compliance in respect of entitlements to farmers; when she intends to appoint one inspector only to adjudicate on these matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28869/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the new single payment scheme farmers may be checked to ensure they continue to respect the various statutory management requirements set down in EU directives and regulations on the environment, food safety, animal health, and welfare, and plant health. Most of these provisions have been in place for some years and generally farmers are aware of the various requirements. In addition, farmers must maintain the farm in good agricultural and environmental condition and the member state will be obliged to ensure that there is no significant reduction in the amount of land under permanent pasture by reference to the total area under permanent pasture in 2003. These requirements are termed cross-compliance.
In general, the rate of inspection required for cross-compliance is 1% of those farmers to whom the relevant statutory management requirements or good agricultural and environmental conditions apply. However, at least 5% of producers must be inspected under the animal identification and registration requirements of cross-compliance as this is the level prescribed under the relevant regulations.
In addition to cross-compliance checks, it is a requirement to carry out standard eligibility checks to verify that the actual area claimed in the single payment application form corresponds with the area held by the farmer and to ensure there are no overlapping claims, or duplicate claim. Checks will also be required to confirm that the lands declared for set-aside purposes are maintained in accordance with the provisions of the EU regulations and that the set-aside obligations are observed. It will also be necessary to verify that the land used to activate entitlements does not contain land used for fruit and vegetable production, potatoes or is in forestry or other permanent crops in the year of application for the single payment.
My Department, as the paying agency, will have primary responsibility to ensure that inspections are effective, the required level of cross-compliance and eligibility inspection is carried out, and for fixing any sanctions to be applied. Every effort will be made to integrate inspections to the maximum extent possible thereby minimising the number of inspection visits and to move towards a situation where, in most cases, eligibility and cross-compliance checks can be carried out during a single farm visit. This approach should minimise the level of inconvenience to farmers. However, in certain instances it will not be possible to avoid more than one inspection of the same holding.
My Department has prepared a consultative document on cross-compliance, including details of the standards required, and has made it available to interested organisations. This document, which invites comments by Friday 19 November 2004, has also been posted on my Department's website. When consultations are complete my Department will publish an information booklet on cross-compliance primarily for the assistance of applicants under the single payment scheme.
