30 May 2023

Land eligibility and conditionality guides published

A new Guide to Land Eligibility and a new Explanatory Handbook for Conditionality Requirements have recently been published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Welcoming the publication of both, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said: “These two new guides will provide valuable and important information to farmers and advisors on the changes to the new CAP programme from now to 2027. The new CAP has brought with it a raft of changes regarding land eligibility, which will be of benefit to farmers and it is important that we give as much guidance as possible to farmers regarding these changes.”

In relation to the Guide to Land Eligibility, Minister McConalogue said: “The booklet is a practical guide to help farmers understand the rules on land eligibility for the various areas related EU schemes, such as the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme.”

The guide provides useful explanations, examples and images for relevant subjects like eligible agriculture areas and agricultural activities. Included are detailed examples of eligible and beneficial farm features and other features that are considered ineligible. The guide also includes a question and answers section and worked examples of the calculation of Eligible Hectare for a number of different land parcels.

Access the Guide to Land Eligibility here.

Conditionality

Under the new Common Agricultural Policy, Conditionality replaces Cross Compliance and while many of the requirements remain the same, changes have occurred.

Commenting on the publication of the Explanatory Handbook for Conditionality Requirements, Minister McConalogue said it was drafted to help farmers understand and comply with a set of mandatory requirements and baseline conditions referred to as Conditionality.

“Conditionality comprises of 11 Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and nine Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) and beneficiaries of the CAP must comply with these conditionality requirements from 2023 onwards in order to be in full compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the BISS and other area-based schemes.

“By complying with these Conditionality requirements, farmers are contributing to Ireland’s overall ambition to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, improve nutrient use and efficiency, reduce chemical nitrogen use, improve water and air quality, improve biodiversity levels and to safe food production and upholding strong animal welfare principles,” he said.

Access the Explanatory Handbook for Conditionality Requirements here.