« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
ARABLE AREA PAYMENTS SCHEME 2003
APPENDIX 4 SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR RAPESEED, LINSEED, FLAX AND HEMP
1. RAPESEED
1. Payments will not be made to those planting rapeseed unless it is either:
1.1 A certified seed of a variety listed in the Common Catalogue. In this context, certified seed means breeder's seed, pre-basic, basic or certified seed. It does not include seed entered under statutory arrangements for the early multiplication of varieties prior to their entry on a UK National List or the Common Catalogue, for which an application for the issue of a breeder's confirmation certificate has been made or for which a breeder's confirmation certificate has been issued. Aid is payable on those varieties in the Common Catalogue, including varietal associations, which have each constituent listed separately. You are strongly advised to check the position with your local Area Office if in doubt as the AAPS eligiblity of oilseed varieties can change. Invoices, seed labels and any other supporting documents for the seed should be retained for inspection. The rules on minimum separation distances apply (see paragraph 1.3).
Or
1.2 Farm-saved seed conforming to certain quality requirements. In particular:
(i) The seed must normally be taken from a crop harvested in 2002 and produced from certified seed sown in Autumn 2001 or Spring 2002.
In exceptional circumstances, seed from the 2001 harvest may be used when climatic conditions dictate that sowing has to take place before harvest of the 2002 crop.
(ii) The seed must be sown only on the holding (covered by the AAA) on which it was produced. If a holding changes hands before the farm-saved seed is sown the new occupier may not claim AAPS aid on any area in which that seed is sown. However, if the holding is taken over after the previous occupier's seed is sown, the in-coming occupier may claim AAPS aid on that crop.
(iii) The seed must have been produced, stored and handled according to good agricultural practice. In particular:
- the seed should have been taken from an area isolated from other varieties of rapeseed and free from weeds to ensure that the seed is not contaminated;
- the seed must have been cleaned and dressed. Seed of different varieties or any other seed must be dealt with separately. "Cleaning and dressing" means the removal of extraneous matter, and the separation and extraction through physical means of small and broken seeds so that only a clean, bold sample remains. You should seek expert advice on whether to treat the seed with agrochemicals;
- if the seed has to leave the holding for cleaning and dressing, it is the producer's responsibility to ensure that it remains separate from other seed lots, to avoid the risk of it being mixed with seed from other holdings. Proof of cleaning and dressing should be retained for inspection.
Or
1.3 High erucic acid rapeseed (HEAR), with a minimum erucic acid content of 40%, grown under a contract. The contract must be drawn up before sowing with an approved first buyer for the production of a crop for a specific non-food industrial use, or for use as seed for sowing to produce such a crop. If you are growing HEAR for non-food use on set-aside land, your contract must be with a collector/first processor. A minimum separation distance of 50 metres between HEAR and double-zero rapeseed crops sown in the same season, whether on your own or a neighbour's land, must be observed. If there is no minimum separation distance, both crops will be considered not to be eligible for AAPS aid. This rule applies to non-food crops grown on set-aside as well as crops on which oilseeds aid is claimed. There is no requirement for a minimum separation distance between spring sown and winter sown crops, i.e. spring double-zero/winter HEAR or winter double-zero/spring HEAR. A copy of the contract must be submitted with the AAA. HEAR varieties are subject to the Seeds Regulations (see paragraph 1.4(iii)).
Or
1.4 Seed planted:
(i) with the intention of producing a crop of breeder's seed, pre-basic, basic or certified seed for sowing (including the early movement of varieties not yet added to the UK National List or the Common Catalogue, for which a breeder's confirmation certificate has been issued); or
(ii) for research; or
(iii) for testing purposes to determine whether the variety may be added to the UK National List.
Seed in 1.4 above must be the subject of a contract made before sowing between the producer and a seed breeder, agricultural merchant or other bona fide contractor. Documentary evidence showing the intended use of such seed must be submitted to your local Area Office no later than your application for AAPS aid. This may include copies of seed multiplication contracts between seed producers and growers or copies of official labels produced for such contracts, or copies of contracts with growers to produce crops for research or testing purposes. The Oil and Fibre Plant Seeds Regulations 1993, as amended, cover the certification and marketing of the seeds of oilseed rape (and linseed). If you do not know what is required under these Regulations, it is essential that you seek advice from the Department's Plants and Environment Policy (PEP) Division, Room 127, Pentland House, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY. One of the requirements is that the seed sown and resulting crop must remain the property of the first person, i.e. the National List applicant, Seed Certification applicant, Seed Merchant, Processor, Researcher or Tester, at all times.
Or
1.5 Seed of the varieties 'Jet Neuf' or 'Bienvenu', grown under contract with a specifically approved buyer to provide seed for oil production for a specific food use. A copy of the contract must be submitted with your AAA; the contract must be signed before sowing.
A list of the most popular oilseed varieties eligible for AAPS aid will be contained in the IACS Explanatory Booklet issued in the Spring. For more detailed advice, please contact your local Area Office.
2. LINSEED, FLAX AND HEMP
1. A list of the eligible linseed, flax and hemp varieties will be contained in the IACS Explanatory Booklet issued in the Spring. For more detailed advice meantime, please contact your local Area Office.
Special arrangements for fibre hemp
2. If growing hemp, you will need to obtain a licence from the Home Office, as it is a criminal offence to cultivate hemp in the UK, for any purpose, without such a licence. Unless you have made separate arrangements with the Home Office, an application for a licence should be made to:
Home Office Licensing Section
Room 239
Queen Anne's Gate
LONDON. SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 3731
Applications for a licence should be made as early as possible if you intend to grow hemp. In considering applications, the bona fides of the applicant and the purpose of growing the hemp, together with the proposed locations of the growing sites, will be taken into account by the Home Office Drugs Branch Inspectorate. Licences are not issued automatically. In particular, in selecting growing sites, you should identify land where there is poor public access and visibility of the crop, i.e. away from residential areas and major roads. Where minor roads abut the growing site, vehicular access to the site should not be possible. The Home Office may also require crops to be screened and other security measures to be taken in some cases. Evidence that you have a contract to supply the hemp produced to a Home Office approved processor may also be required.
Contracts
3. Area aid in flax and hemp will not be paid unless a copy of the contract concluded with an authorised primary processor or a commitment to process is supplied to SEERAD. This contract or commitment is also required to enable a claim to be made for processing aid.
« Previous | Contents | Next »