Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Consultation on Single Payment Scheme (SPS) aspects of EU fruit and vegetable and wine reform
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
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