Press Release: Council supports Commission move to improve Cross Compliance system

European Union agriculture ministers have adopted conclusions backing the Commission's report on the application of the system of Cross Compliance. The report proposes a raft of measures to improve and simplify the system of Cross Compliance, which formed a key element of the 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. The changes aim, among other things, to improve information, introduce a certain level of tolerance in minor cases of non-compliance, harmonise control rates and introduce advance notice of certain on-farm checks. The Commission will now go ahead and prepare the necessary legislative changes. This will not water down the concept of Cross Compliance, but takes into account experience gained so far to make the system work better for the benefit of farmers and administrations. It forms a further stage in the Commission's ongoing efforts to simplify the CAP. Cross Compliance means that farmers have to respect a set of standards to avoid cuts in payments from the European Union. These cover protection of the environment, public, animal and plant health, animal welfare and the maintenance of the land in good agricultural and environmental condition.