This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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EPS sixth check date announced
20/01/2003
The sixth check date under the Standard Scheme option of the
Extensification Payment Scheme 2002 was announced today.
The date, covering the period November to December 2002 is,
12 December 2002 and is the same for all applicants across the
UK. The fifth check date (25 October 2002) covering September
to October 2002 was randomly selected and announced in
November.
Claimants should by now have received their third
declaration letter which they are required to complete with
details of the total number of bovine livestock units on their
holding on the fifth check date. They are also required to
check the information we have recorded for the first four check
dates.
A fourth declaration letter, pre-printed with the
information provided for the first five check dates, will issue
in late January requesting data for the sixth check date.
Claimants should return all details for all six check dates to
their SEERAD Area Office by 28 February 2003. Failure to do
this will result in no payment being made. As an alternative to
submitting a paper declaration, claimants can now complete the
details and send them electronically to SEERAD if they have
access to the Internet.
Further information and details on how to access the
electronic system can be found at
www.scotland.gov.uk/agri or from SEERAD Area
Offices.
This is the sixth and final check date for producers
participating in the EPS Standard Scheme option. They will be
required to complete a declaration form detailing the total
number of livestock units on their holding on this date and
check the information they provided for the first five check
dates. The first, second and third of these declaration
letters, covering the first five check dates, has already
issued.
Livestock units are calculated on the following basis: Sheep
claimed and paid under SAPS 2001 = 0.15 LU; Male bovine animals
and heifers older than 24 months, suckler and dairy cows = 1.0
LU; male bovine animals and heifers from 6 to 24 months = 0.6
LU.
Payment rates under the EPS 2002 are €80 per eligible animal
for stocking density levels below 1.4 LU/hectare, and €40 per
eligible animal for stocking density levels of 1.4 LU/hectare
or more, and less than or equal to 1.8 LU/hectare. The sterling
equivalents will be based on the average rate of exchange for
December 2001 and are worth £49.55 (£48.06 after modulation)
and £24.77 (£24.03 after modulation) respectively.