Consultation on Single
Payment Scheme (SPS) aspects of EU fruit and vegetable and wine reform
DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref
:64/08) issued by The Government News Network on 29 February 2008
A national public
consultation was launched today on options for implementing the
outstanding Single Payment Scheme (SPS) aspects of the reforms to
the EU fresh and processed fruit and vegetable regime and the EU
wine regime.
The reforms include provisions to allocate new SPS payment
entitlements in respect of land growing permanent fruit and
vegetables and nursery crops, with the potential for similar
provisions to be made available in respect of vines. The
consultation will seek views on the criteria under which any new
entitlements should be allocated. The consultation will run for
twelve weeks until 23 May 2008. We welcome your views on the
proposed options. You can write to us at: pso.stakeholders@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK
Notes to editors
1. The Single Payment Scheme (SPS) 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 and on the Wine sector on 19
December 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
and this was followed by the announcement on 20 December that land
under orchards and nursery crops will become eligible under the
SPS from the 2009 scheme year.
5. Political agreement on reform of the EU wine regime was
reached on 19 December 2007 http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071219i.htm].
Whilst the legal texts covering the reform have not yet been
published, Defra is using the opportunity of the fruit and
vegetables consultation to seek views on a possible SPS
arrangements for vine growers.
6. This consultation covers the other options involving the
timing and criteria for allocating any new entitlements in respect
of this land.
7. Further details on the SPS can be found on the Defra website
at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/singlepay/index.htm
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
End
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