Single Payment Scheme
The Single Payment Scheme (SPS), part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), is the principal agricultural subsidy scheme in the EU. Under the scheme farmers have freedom to farm to the demands of the market as payments are not linked to production, and environmentally friendly farming practices (known as cross compliance) are acknowledged.
Latest news
7 March 2012 – Minister updates Parliament on Single Payment Scheme progress (PDF)
11 January 2012 – Minister updates Parliament with Single Payment Scheme progress
21 December 2011 – RPA sets “best ever” payments record
5 December 2011 – Minister updates Parliament with Single Payment Scheme progress
Key facts and figures
- SPS payments totalling over £1.5 billion are paid to over 100,000 farmers in England each year.
- The scheme in England is administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
Background to the Single Payment Scheme
Who is eligible to apply?
To claim under the SPS you must be a farmer and you must hold SPS entitlements. You must also have an eligible hectare of land for each entitlement you decide to claim payment on and this land must be at your disposal on at least one day (usually 15 May) of the scheme year.
You do not need to undertake any agricultural production in order to receive the SPS payment but, whether or not you produce, you will still need to comply with EU standards covering public, animal and plant health, environmental and animal welfare (known as ‘cross-compliance’) on all your agricultural land (whether you claim on this land or not).
How do I apply?
Applications for the SPS should be made to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
- RPA’s SPS Online service allows farmers to:
- Check and update their contact details.
- Access, amend and submit pre-populated SPS applications electronically.
- Track the progress of submitted claims from start to finish, even if they applied using the paper form.
- View all Claim or Entitlements Statements issued from 2009 onwards.
- Make their annual SPS claim.
- You can register now for SPS Online.
If you do not have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or the guidance book sent with it you can request a new one.
Further information
Detailed information about the SPS scheme rules, the application process, SPS Online or commercially available farm software packages can be found on the RPA website.
A series of plain English summary guides on the SPS is available in the farming section of the Business Link website.
Other parts of the UK
Please contact the appropriate devolved administration for information on the operation of the scheme in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
Legislation: European Union
The full texts of the following regulations are available from the European Union Reference centre website Eurlex.
Council Regulation
Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 (published 31/01/2009) establishes the legal framework for the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). The Regulation also covers those remaining direct payments (including those relevant in England; being protein crop premium, aid for energy crops and the area payment for nuts) and horizontal rules (including, Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), cross-compliance and modulation). This repeals Council regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.
Commission Regulations
The following Commission Regulations provide the detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulations 1782/2003 and 73/2009.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004 of 21 April 2004 (published 30/04/2004) – Covers cross-compliance, IACS and modulation
Commission Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 of 21 April 2004 (published 30/04/2004) – Setting out the detailed rules for the implementation of the single payment scheme.
Commission Regulation No. 1973/2004 of 29 October 2004 (published 20 November 2004) – these are the rules for coupled schemes that apply from 1/1/2005 (only Protein Premium, Nuts and Energy crops are relevant in the UK context).
Commission Regulation (EC) 1655/2004 of 22 September 2004 (published 23/09/2004) – allows Member States to introduce a system of additional national modulation.
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1794/2005 of 28 October 2005 which fixes the exchange rates applicable to certain direct aids and structural or environmental measures that will apply in 2005.
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 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1121/2009 of 29 October 2009 – laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 as regards the support schemes for farmers provided for in Titles IV and V thereof
Commission Regulation(EC) No 1122/2009 of 30 November 2009 – laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 as regards cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system, under the direct support schemes for farmers provided for that Regulation, as well as for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards cross-compliance under the support scheme provided for the wine sector
Legislation: England
Note: the following links will take you to the legislation.gov.uk website, managed by The National Archives on behalf of HM Government.
SI 2012 No 66. (PDF 51 KB)
The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012. A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 20 KB) is also available.
SI 2010 No 540 (PDF – 60 KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes Regulations 2010. A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 20 KB) is also available.
SI 2010 No. 39 (PDF 45KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Appeals) Regulations 2010.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 100KB) is also available.
SI 2009 No. 3102 (PDF 57KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Scheme.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 219KB) is also available.
SI 2009 No. 3263 (PDF 66KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Scheme (Integrated Administration and Control System) Regulations 2009.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 101KB) is also available.
No 2009 No. 3365 (PDF 81KB)
The Agriculture (Cross Compliance) (No. 2) Regulations 2009.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 585KB) is also available.
SI 2009 No.1771 (PDF 48KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Horticulture) Regulations 2009.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 178KB) is also available.
SI 2008 No. 1139 (PDF 42KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2008.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 30KB) is also available.
SI 2008 No. 80 (PDF – 40KB)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross Compliance) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 .
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 28KB) is also available.
SI 2007 No. 3182
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2007 .
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 55KB) is also available.
SI 2007 No. 633
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2007.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 50KB) is also available.
SI 2006 No. 989
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment No3) Regulations 2006.
A copy of the Explanatory memorandum (PDF 48KB) is also available.
SI 2006 No.301
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment No2) Regulations 2006.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 27KB) is also available.
SI 2006 No.169
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Reductions from Payments)(England) Regulations 2006.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 70KB) is also available.
SI 2006 No. 239
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2006.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 60KB) is also available.
SI 2005 No. 3460
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 60KB) is also available.
SI 2005 No. 3459
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross-compliance) (England) Regulations 2005.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 32KB) is also available.
SI 2005 No.1087
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2005.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 131KB) is also available.
SI 2005 No.918
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross Compliance) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2005.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 52KB) is also available.
SI 2005 No. 219
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes Regulations 2005.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 52KB) is also available.
SI 2005 No. 218
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Integrated Administration and Control System) Regulations 2005.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 52KB) is also available.
SI 2004 No. 3385
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment Scheme (Set-aside) (England) Regulations 2004.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 57KB) is also available.
SI 2004 No. 3196
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Cross Compliance) (England) Regulations 2004.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 53KB) is also available.
SI 2004 No. 2689
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Appeals) (England) Regulations 2004.
A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum (PDF 19KB) is also available.