Common Agricultural Policy Basic Payment and Support Schemes (Wales) Regulations 2015 (W.S.I. No. 1252 (W. 84) of 2015).

These Regulations make provision in Wales for the administration of Regulation (EU) No. 1307/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy and some associated Regulations. They specify the minimum eligible area of a holding in respect of which direct payments may be granted to a farmer and the activities a farmer must carry out in order to maintain an agricultural area in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation. They also, among other things: set out how payment entitlements under the basic payment scheme will be allocated and fixes the date on which the number of eligible hectares must be at the disposal of farmers; set out how payment entitlements under the basic payment scheme may be transferred via sale or lease and makes provision for the period within which a transferor must notify the Welsh Ministers of a transfer of payment entitlements; set out those non-agricultural activities which are permitted on an agricultural area for a limited period. Regulations 14 to 16 make provision relating to the greening component of direct payments, linking payments to agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and environment. Regulation 14 sets out the period to be taken into account for the purposes of determining whether crop diversification requirements have been met. Regulation 15 provides for the designation of permanent grasslands which are environmentally sensitive. Regulation 16 sets out the five areas which are to be Ecological Focus Areas ( EFAs ) and details the scope of the EFAs relating to land lying fallow, landscape features, areas of short rotation coppice, afforested areas and areas with nitrogen fixing crops.