NEWS RELEASE
Date: 20 December 2007
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Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960
Single Payment Scheme aspects of reform of the EU fruit and vegetable regime is agreed
Jeff Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming, today announced arrangements that will apply under the Single Payment Scheme following the reform of the EU fruit and vegetable regime.
In order to safeguard the SPS 2008 payment timetable;
- land under orchards and nursery crops will now become eligible under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) from the 2009 scheme year, and;
- a consultation exercise will take place early in the New Year on the criteria under which any new entitlements will be allocated in respect of this land in 2009 or 2010.
Jeff Rooker said:
"There is a balance to be achieved between the interests of orchard and nursery growers and the wider concerns of all SPS claimants. I am clear we must ensure that nothing is done that hinders the progress the RPA is now making in delivering the SPS."
Notes to editors
1. The Single Payment Scheme was introduced in England in 2005 under the 2003 CAP reforms. Around £1.5 billion is expected to be paid out annually under the scheme to English farmers by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), an Executive Agency of Defra.
2. Agreement was reached on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy covering the fruit and vegetable sector by the EU Agricultural Council on 12 June 2007.
3. Each of the regions of the UK has the flexibility under the agreement to take its own decision on the options available under these reforms relating to the SPS.
4. The abolition of the system of fruit, vegetable and potato authorisations was announced via a New Release on 29 August 2007.
5. Other options involved the timing of making land eligible under the scheme and the timing and criteria for allocating any new entitlements.
6. Further details on the SPS can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/singlepay/index.htm
End
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Page published: 20 December 2007