The Organic Farming Scheme (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which come into force on 26th January 2004, amend the Organic Farming Scheme (Wales) Regulations 2001 (“the principal Regulations”) so as to introduce additional aid, known as Organic Stewardship Aid (“Stewardship aid”), to be payable to eligible applicants in respect of land which has completed its organic conversion but in respect of which the applicant has provided a commitment to continue farming organically.

Regulation 3 amends the principal regulations so as to provide for their application to cross border holdings which include land situated outside of Wales.

Regulation 5 inserts provisions into the principal Regulations which:

(a)enable the National Assembly to make payments of Stewardship aid subject to specified conditions;

(b)specify the conditions of eligibility;

(c)specify the rate and duration of Stewardship aid;

(d)provide for the administrative and enforcement provisions of the principal Regulations to apply to Stewardship aid.

Regulations 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 provide amendments to the principal Regulations consequent upon, and incidental to, the introduction of Stewardship aid.

The Regulations also amend the principal Regulations so as to increase the payment rate for organic farming aid payable under regulation 3 of the principal Regulations in respect of the fourth, fifth (and in respect of unenclosed land and grazed woodland), third, year of claim (regulation 11(a), (b) and (c)).

Regulation 11(d) inserts into the principal Regulations a new part, (“Part 1A”), to Schedule 1, which sets out the payment rates for Stewardship aid.

A Regulatory Appraisal has been prepared and deposited in the Library of the National Assembly. A copy may be obtained from the Food and Farming Development Division, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.