What is Cross Compliance?
Background
Payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are now dependent on the achievement and maintenance of baseline standards on environmental and public health, animal and plant health, and animal welfare – otherwise known as cross compliance. There are two key elements to cross compliance:
-
Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs)
– these are existing and already legally binding standards defined by a
range of 19 European regulatory requirements covering environmental,
public health, plant health and animal health and welfare standards; and
- Standards consistent with keeping land in “Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition” (GAEC) including habitat conservation and soil protection.
SMRs have been in place on a phased basis in Ireland since 1st January 2005. Farmers’ compliance with these requirements can now be checked through inspection visits . Failure to meet the requirements may result in payments being withheld, either partially or fully.
In practice this means that you need to be even more aware than before of the legal requirements of environmental protection related to Cross Compliance and ensure that you comply with them.
When does Cross Compliance apply?
Since 1 January 2005 it has been necessary for applicants under the Single Payment Scheme to maintain all their land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC). The various SMRs have been phased in over three years, since 1 January 2005. Details of the Cross Compliance requirements are available on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food website..
The first 9 regulatory requirements became effective from 1 January 2005. The standards for the SMRs with effective dates in 2006 are contained within The Single Payment Scheme - 2006 Cross Compliance Booklet.
