Updated: Added cross compliance inspection failure results in 2017.
Guidance
What’s new in 2017
As explained in the ‘What’s new in 2017’ section of the guide, there’s only one change to the cross compliance rules for 2017. This change is to GAEC 1: Establishment of buffer strips along watercourses.
You’ll also find ‘Key dates in 2017’ on page 5 in the guide. This reminds you what you should and shouldn’t do to meet the rules throughout the year.
RPA has also created a video about what to expect during an inspection which is now under Cross compliance 2018.
The Farming Advice Service – if you need help
The Farming Advice Service (FAS) is funded by Defra to provide free, confidential advice to farmers and farming industry advisers to help them understand and meet requirements for cross compliance, ‘greening’, water protection and the sustainable use of pesticides.
Call them on 03000 200 301 or search online for more information about the Farming Advice Service.
Inspections and calculating penalties
For detailed information about inspections and penalties, read page 12 of ‘The guide to cross compliance in England 2017’ above.
If you’re inspected and the inspector finds something wrong, they use a set of standards called ‘verifiable standards’ to assess how serious the non-compliance is. This is based on the extent of the non-compliance and how severe and permanent it is.
RPA uses a guide to work out the penalty that is to be applied.
They also use a calculator to work out how severe a non-compliance is for cattle identification and registration for SMR 7.
Get a copy of these documents from ruralpayments@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Tell them which documents you want and use ‘Verifiable Standards 2017’ as the email heading.
These are the results from
– they show the reasons why farmers failed to meet each Statutory Management Requirement (SMR) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC).
Contact RPA
Email
ruralpayments@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Helpline
03000 200 301
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