Title, application and commencement

1.–(1) The title of these Regulations is the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2010.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales, and come into force on 16 August 2010.

Interpretation

2.–(1) In these Regulations–

• "the Commission Regulation" ("Rheoliad y Comisiwn") means Commission Regulation (EC) No 1120/2009 of 29 October 2009 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the single payment scheme provided for in Title III of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009(3); and

• "the Council Regulation" ("Rheoliad y Cyngor") means Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers(4).

(2) Any reference in these Regulations to an EU instrument is a reference to that instrument as amended from time to time.

Region

3. Wales is a single region for the purposes of Article 46(2) of the Council Regulation.

Minimum size of holding to establish entitlements

4. For the purposes of Article 25(4) of the Commission Regulation the minimum size of a holding for which the establishment of payment entitlements may be requested is 0.3 hectares.

Minimum claim

5. For the purposes of Article 28(1) of the Council Regulation the minimum requirement for a claim is one hectare for farmers who do not hold special entitlements in accordance with that Article, and 100 for farmers who hold special entitlements.

Date on which eligible land must be at the farmer´s disposal

6. In relation to any year in which the farmer makes a declaration in respect of parcels pursuant to Article 35(1) of the Council Regulation, the date on which those parcels must be at the farmer´s disposal is the 15 May of that year.

Voluntary modulation

7. The rates in the third column of the Schedule are the voluntary modulation referred to in Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 378/2007 of 27 March 2007 laying down rules for voluntary modulation of direct payments(5).

Short rotation coppice

8. For the purposes of Article 2(n) of the Commission Regulation–

(a) the list of tree species is–

• Alder (Alnus spp.);

• Birch (Betula spp.);

• Hazel (Corylus avellana);

• Ash (Fraxinus excelsior);

• Lime (Tilia cordata);

• Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa);

• Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus);

• Willow (Salix spp.);

• Poplar (Populus spp.);

• Hornbeam (Carpinus spp.); and

(b) the maximum harvest cycle is 20 years.

Payment entitlements

9. Pursuant to the third sub-paragraph of Article 43(1) of the Council Regulation, payment entitlements under the single payment scheme attributable to and established in Wales, may only be used or transferred within Wales.

Revocation

10. The following Regulations are revoked–

(a) The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2005(6);

(b) The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006(7);

(c) The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2008(8);

(d) The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009(9);

(e) The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (Wales) Regulations 2005(10);

(f) The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006(11).

Regulation 7

SCHEDULE Voluntary modulation rates

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision, in relation to Wales, for the administration of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 (OJ No L 30, 31.1.2009, p. 16), and other associated EU (European Union) instruments, in relation to direct support schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy.

They continue the arrangements which applied under the CommonAgricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005/360 (W. 29) as amended.

Regulation 3 provides that Wales is a single region for the purposes of the direct support schemes.

Regulation 4 specifies the minimum size of a holding in respect of which the establishment of entitlements may be requested.

Regulation 5 sets the minimum area in respect of which a claim may be made and in some cases the minimum claim value.

Regulation 6 fixes the date on which parcels used as the basis for a claim under the Single Payment Scheme must be at the disposal of farmers.

Regulation 7 specifies the total voluntary modulation deductions which will be made from direct payments payable to farmers.

Regulation 8 designates the short rotation coppice tree species eligible under the single payment scheme and sets the maximum harvest cycle.

Regulation 9 provides that payment entitlements established in Wales are only used and transferred within Wales.

Regulation 10 revokes the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005/360 (W. 29) and its amendments, and the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (Wales) Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005/45 (W. 4) and its amendments.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has not been prepared as the provisions covered by these Regulations either continue the existing arrangements or, in the case of the new provision on short rotation coppice, will have a negligible additional cost to business.