Contracts are between an authorised primary processor and growers of flax and hemp. The aid is paid on the tonnage of fibre produced, to a primary processor or a person treated as a processor. The fibre produced must be from flax or hemp straw grown on land that has been declared on the farmers’ IACS application form, by the set IACS deadline.

Aid can only be paid when Aid application form (FPA5) and declaration of Fibre Production (FPA 7) are received by their due dates and other scheme rules have been met.

Scheme Deadlines

1. Late applications will be subject to a reduction in aid of 1% per working day that the application is late. No aid will be paid if the application is received more than 25 days late.

2. For the first 6 months and each 4 months following, the authorised primary processor will submit details of fibre production.

3. Before 1 January of the marketing year contracts may be transferred to another authorised primary processor.

4. Before 1 May the following marketing year, authorised primary processors will declare how the fibre and other products obtained have been used.