Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was approved as an agri environment scheme by the EU Commission as part of Ireland's RDP with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the suckler herd. As with all agri environment schemes applicants commit to participating in the scheme for a number of years. In the case of the BDGP a six year commitment is required. Therefore when a  participant withdraws from the BDGP all payments previously made are subject to recovery. In certain limited circumstances however it may be possible to withdraw from the scheme without recovery of previous payments on  force majeure grounds, as set out below.

- death of the beneficiary,

- long term professional incapacity of the beneficiary,

- expropriation of all or a large part of the holding if that expropriation could not have been anticipated on the day of lodging the application,

- a severe natural disaster gravely affecting the holding,

- the accidental destruction of livestock buildings on the holding,

- an epizootic or a plant disease affecting part or all of the beneficiary's livestock or crops respectively.

Any request to withdraw from the BDGP must  be made in writing as soon as possible, and should be accompanied by any relevant supporting documentation. Such requests are considered on a case by case basis.