The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has made a Statutory Rule entitled “The Direct Payments to Farmers Single Application Amendment Date (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (NI) 2020” (SR 2020 No. 81), which comes into operation on 31 May 2020, and is subject to negative resolution procedure. This rule was made under powers conferred on the Department by Article 78(b) of Regulation (EU) No. 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the Financing, Management and Monitoring of the common agricultural policy. Regulation (EU) No.1306/2013 was incorporated into domestic law by the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020.

The Amendment made by this instrument will allow farmers in Northern Ireland to make changes to their single application for Direct Payments until 9 June 2020 without penalty instead of the usual deadline of 31 May. The Amendment is for the 2020 scheme year only, in response to the difficulties farmers may have had in finalising their applications due to Covid-19 restrictions.

This Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070, or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr