Important cross compliance updates now available online
A fully updated version of The Guide to Cross Compliance in England is now available on the RPA website, including important recent changes to rules governing nitrate vulnerable zones, no spread zones and cattle identification and registration.
A text only version of the guide will also be made available for those with slower or dial-up connections or those using mobile phones to access the internet.
Farmers will also receive a booklet on the rule changes by post.
This is the last time all farmers will be sent a paper copy of cross compliance changes. The increased use of online resources by farmers, combined with the government-wide drive to move services online, means that future updates will only be generally available online. This also delivers significant savings to the taxpayer.
For any customers genuinely unable to access the internet, we are committed to providing alternatives. We are currently working to identify those customers who face these barriers and to ensure they receive the right level of service.
RPA is providing telephone support for customers wanting to register for online services. Simply call 0845 603 7777 to access this service.
Cross compliance rules consist of a series of Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions and Statutory Management Requirements. The latest changes affect GAEC 19 (No spread zones), SMR 4 (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) and SMR 7 (Cattle identification and registration). All the changes to cross compliance rules reflect wider changes to underpinning legislation.
SMR 4 – Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs): There are a number of amendments to the general rules governing NVZs and farmers are advised to check carefully how these might affect them. For SMR 4, changes apply to record keeping rules at A1, rules A3, A4, A8, A10, B1, B3, B7 and B9, and to footnotes. New rules also apply to greenhouse crops. There are also changes to the designations of the nitrate vulnerable zones in England from 17 May 2013 and farmers are advised to check the status of their land. This can be done at the What’s in your backyard? section on the Environment Agency website at : www.environment-agency.gov.uk/nvzmaps
GAEC 19 – No spread zones: The GAEC 19 No spread zone rules are based on the SMR 4 Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) rules and rule A2 has been updated to reflect the amendments made under the NVZ rules along with new footnotes 4 and 5.
SMR 7 – Cattle identification and registration: New death reporting rules came into effect from 6 April 2013. These have a minor impact on SMR 7 and rule A9 has been amended along with new footnotes 8 and 9.
Cross compliance rules apply to farmers receiving payments under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support schemes or those receiving payments under certain Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) schemes
A fully updated version of The Guide to Cross Compliance in England, 2013 edition, is available at rpa.gov.uk/crosscompliance
Further advice on the cross compliance rules and how they might apply to individual farmers is available from the Farming Advice Service, see defra.gov.uk/farming-advice/cross-compliance or call the Farming Advice Service Helpline 0845 345 1302
