Important SPS information

Defra and the RPA have released important information concerning SPS aspects of the recent reforms of EU fruit vegetable and wine regimes. These changes are not connected to the CAP health check, but earlier CAP changes.

Farmers will be eligible to apply for new SPS entitlements for permanent fruit and vegetable crops, nursery crops and vines in time for payment applications under the 2010 SPS scheme year. These new entitlements will be valued at the flat rate applicable for the 2010 SPS scheme year. This development follows earlier decisions made in August 2007 on the abolition of the system of FVP authorisations in England for SPS 2008 and in December 2007 when land under orchards and nursery crops would become eligible under the SPS from the 2009 scheme year, as well as now land under vines.

The RPA has published a fact sheet, which contains important information on these changes on its website. As the note states, it is for existing SPS claimants as well as those who have not claimed SPS before and does require interested parties to contact the RPA as quickly as possible to register their interest. There is a lot of emphasis on the farmer to contact the RPA call centre via telephone more than once.

Members need to make sure they are on the RPA's radar throughout the process set out in the fact sheet. Good house keeping is the order of the day, keeping records together, written notes of what members did, when they did it, who they spoke to, what each person said etc is vital as well as obtaining full names and references of who they are speaking to.