Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will provide this Deputy with copies of Ireland's reports to the EU on the administration of the meeting standards part of the 2003 Common Agricultural Policy reform which helps small producers conform with EU directives; when these reports were submitted to the EU; and if she will make a statement on the take-up of this measure here. [41189/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the Council Regulation governing the Single Payment Scheme provides that, by 1 January 2007, Member States shall set up a system of advising farmers on land and farm management to be known as "the farm advisory system". The system is to be operated by one or more designated authorities or by private bodies. The advisory activity must cover at least the Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition associated with cross-compliance. The regulation also provides that farmers may participate in the system on a voluntary basis but that Member States shall give priority to farmers who receive more than €15,000 of direct payments (Single Payment) each year.

It is intended that the existing Teagasc advisory service together with the service provided by existing private REPS planners will constitute the Farm Advisory System in Ireland from 1 January 2007. This arrangement has been confirmed to the European Commission.