Organic Farming (England Rural Development Programme) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 1235 of 2003).

These Regulations implement in England Articles 22 to 24 and 43(2) of Council Regulation (EC) 1257/1999 and provide for the payment of grant to farmers who undertake to introduce organic farming methods or, where a farmer is already farming organically, to continue farming organically. In both cases the farmers must comply with certain environmental prescriptions. The Regulations specify: (a) the conditions upon which an application for grant may be accepted by the Secretary of State (regs. 3-7); and (b) the rate at which grant may be paid, and the requirements relating to claims for grant and before a payment of grant can be made (regs. 8-10). Penalties in respect of an over-declaration of land area are provided by Article 62 of Commission Regulation (EC) 445/2002. The Secretary of State is given a power to recover in the event of a breach of an obligation by the England Rural Development Programme (Enforcement) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3044), which also create an offence of making false or misleading statements and of obstruction of an authorized person.