The rules of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) changed in 2009 which meant additional land could be used to claim payment against existing SPS entitlements in 2009.
As a result, the areas which were newly eligible in 2009 included:
- land under permanent fruit and vegetables (including commercial orchards),
- nursery crops and
- vines
In addition farmers who had land used to grow these crops in 2008 may have been eligible to apply for new SPS payment entitlements. These new entitlements can then be used to claim payment for the first time in the 2010 scheme year.
The application period for applying for new entitlements closed on 13 August 2009, and a late application period followed up until 7 September 2009. Below you will find links to the SP20 form and guidance, as well as copies of the Information Notes issued on new entitlements.
Entitlements Statements
We have recently written to new entitlements applicants to advise them when they will receive their Entitlements Statement which shows the allocation of new entitlements. If you applied for new entitlements and do not hear anything about your new entitlements or your Entitlements Statement by the end of March 2010 please contact us on 0845 603 7777.
Transferring new entitlements
If you want to transfer your new entitlements to another farmer but do not have your Entitlements Statement, please telephone us on 0845 603 7777 and quote reference ‘NETR1’. We will send an RLE 1 (request for transfer of entitlements form) and guidance notes to you.
You need to contact us by 5 March to ensure you have enough time to complete and return your RLE 1 form in time for the entitlements to be used for 2010 SPS.
Information Note 2 replaced Information Note 1 which we published on our website in August 2008, this document gives further details about:
- the eligibility requirements for farmers who wish to apply for new entitlements;
- eligible land;
- how we will calculate the number of entitlements (including hardship and national reserve provisions) – further information has been provided in Information Note 3 (below);
- cross compliance requirements;
- the process to apply for new entitlements; and
- the timetable for this process.
Information Note 2:
If you would like to know more, you can ring the RPA Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm.
Application to establish new entitlements (SP20) form and guidance
The deadline for us to receive completed applications to establish new entitlements has now passed. If any application forms or supporting documentation were received by RPA after midnight on 7 September 2009 the applicant will be sent a letter explaining why the application has been rejected.
If you wish to discuss this further, please feel free to write to or email the Customer Relations Unit:
Customer Relations Unit
Rural Payments Agency
PO Box 69
Reading
RG1 3YD
Email – customerrelations@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Information Note 3 (National Reserve)
We have produced guidance on the information required to apply for the National Reserve for growers of permanent fruit and vegetable crops (including commercial orchards), nursery crops and vines (ONV) who are planning on applying for an allocation of new entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). New SPS entitlements will be available for the 2010 year.
We are hoping the publication of Information Note 3 will help growers to understand what information is required to apply for the National Reserve. This information is also included within the guidance booklet, which was sent out with the new entitlements application (SP20) form in June 2009.
Click here for the Defra News Release from 8 August 2008
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