Day: March 24, 2023

With the growing security risks in crypto and real-world economies, the OSCE organized from 20 to 25 March in Chisinau its first national training courses for Moldova on money laundering related to virtual assets.

“Money laundering through virtual assets is a growing regional security risk. As crypto-economies and real-world financial markets become more and more interconnected, state authorities have to intervene more often to stay ahead of risks like money laundering. And Moldova is no exception with its developing crypto and crypto-mining industry,” said Kurban Babayev, Associate Anti-corruption Officer in the OSCE’s Office of the Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental affairs.

Course participants comprised officials from state financial supervisory agencies and law enforcement. They learned about assessment, investigation and supervision methods, risks associated with cryptocurrencies, criminal schemes, as well as tools for tracing different coins and tokens. They also reviewed case studies, compliance of virtual assets service providers (VASP), and tools for online supervision and investigations.

The training course is part of an OSCE-led extra-budgetary project on innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets. The project is designed to support the governments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in building national authorities’ capacities to mitigate criminal risks related to virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. The project is funded by the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland.

Source: EMM/ European Council

Ministers will seek a general approach on the gas and hydrogen package, which includes a proposal for a directive and a proposal for a regulation on common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen.

Ministers will seek a political agreement on a proposal to extend a Council regulation on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15% ahead of winter.

Ministers will hold a first policy debate on a proposal to revise the EU electricity market design.

Under other items ministers will hear from the Commission on winter preparedness and from Denmark on the nature restoration regulation.

Source: EMM/ European Council

CVMP opinions on veterinary medicinal products

Under Regulation (EC) No 726/2004

The Committee adopted by consensus a positive opinion for a marketing authorisation of Newflend ND H9, from Ceva-Phylaxia Co. Ltd., a new vaccine for the active immunisation of one-day-old chicks or 18-day-old chicken embryonated eggs against Newcastle disease and H9 low pathogenic avian influenza.

Under Regulation (EU) 2019/6

The Committee adopted by consensus positive opinions for variations requiring assessment concerning quality-related changes for:

Bravecto

Kriptazen

Leucofeligen FeLV/RCP

Masivet

Nexgard Combo

Prevomax

Suprelorin

The Committee adopted by consensus positive opinions for variations requiring assessment to align the product information with version 9.0 of the QRD template for:

Bravecto

Innovax-ILT

Nobilis Influenza H5N2

Porcilis PCV M Hyo

Poulvac E. coli

Purevax Rabies

Stronghold

Versican Plus L4

Versican Plus Pi

Versican Plus Pi/L4

Scientific advice

The Committee adopted 4 scientific advice reports further to requests for initial advice concerning two biological products, one immunological product, and one pharmaceutical product. The respective target species (one product each) were cattle, dogs, salmon, and horses.

Limited market classifications and eligibility according to Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6

Following 2 requests, the CVMP classified:

A product (ATCvet classification: Alimentary tract and metabolism) for cats and dogs as intended for a limited market and eligible for authorisation under Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6.

A product (ATCvet classification: Nervous system) for dogs as not intended for a limited market and not eligible for authorisation under Article 23 of Regulation (EU) 2019/6.

Pharmacovigilance

Under Regulation (EU) 2019/6

The Committee adopted a recommendation for changes to the summary of product characteristics for Galliprant as an outcome of signal management activities.

Concept papers, guidelines and SOPs

Pharmacovigilance

The Committee adopted revised questions and answers on describing adverse events in the product information (summary of product characteristics and package leaflet; EMA/CVMP/150343/2016-Rev.3), which is also relevant for variations requiring assessment to align product information with version 9.0 of the QRD template.

Quality

The Committee adopted an Annex to the Guideline on Quality Aspects of Pharmaceutical Veterinary Medicines for administration via drinking water on compatibility studies between veterinary medicinal products and biocidal products, for a 3-month period of public consultation.

More information about the above-mentioned medicines (including their full indications), guidelines, reflection papers, questions and answers and other documents, such as overviews of comments received during consultation, can be found below in “Related content”.

Related content

Bravecto: EPAR

Galliprant: EPAR

Innovax-ILT: EPAR

Kriptazen: EPAR

Leucofeligen FeLV/RCP: EPAR

Masivet: EPAR

NexGard Combo: EPAR

Nobilis Influenza H5N2: EPAR

Porcilis PCV M Hyo: EPAR

Poulvac E. coli: EPAR

Prevomax: EPAR

Purevax Rabies: EPAR

Stronghold: EPAR

Suprelorin: EPAR

Versican Plus L4: EPAR

Versican Plus Pi: EPAR

Versican Plus Pi/L4: EPAR

Newflend ND H9: Pending EC decision

Bravecto: Withdrawn application

Leucofeligen FeLV/RCP: Pending EC decision

Bravecto: Pending EC decision

Suprelorin: Pending EC decision

Related content

Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP): 21-23 March 2023

CVMP: Agendas, minutes and reports

Source: EMM/ European Council

Yesterday, the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Ms. Nina GREGORI was at the Court of Justice of the European Union where, together with its President – the Honourable Mr. Koen LENAERTS – she spoke to a High-level Roundtable attended by over 160 representatives of 25 EU+ countries, Third Countries , the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the UNHCR, the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) and the Association of European Administrative Judges (the AEAJ).

Speaking from the European Court of Justice’s main courtroom during the Opening Session, Ms. Gregori emphasised that driving convergence in practices and the implementation of EU asylum legislation is the raison d’être of the Agency. Against the background that changes to EU law on asylum are exceptionally rare, the Executive Director discussed key pillars of the strengthened EUAA mandate and how the Agency is now better-equipped to carry out its mission

The EUAA Regulation is the first major change to EU law on asylum since 2013, and provides for the appointment of the Agency’s first, independent, Fundamental Rights Officer, and a new legal requirement for EU Member States to take into account the EUAA Country Guidance on key Countries of Origin. This latter development offers strong potential in driving further convergence in asylum decision-making in Member States.

Ms. Gregori discussed how the Agency offers support to national judicial authorities in their important work of ensuring the consistent interpretation of EU law on international protection in appeal procedures, as well as the administrative support provided to national Courts and Tribunals, upon their request for assistance. Taken together, these measures aim to support national judiciaries in ensuring that similar asylum cases receive similar outcomes, regardless of where an application was lodged.

Source: EMM/ European Council

Parliament and Council reached a deal on cleaner maritime fuels, asking to cut ship emissions by 2% as of 2025 and by 80% as of 2050, to help the EU become climate neutral.

A provisional agreement reached on early Thursday morning between the European Parliament and Council negotiators sets up a fuel standard for ships to steer the EU maritime sector towards the uptake of renewable and low-carbon fuels and decarbonisation.

Cutting maritime emissions

During the talks, MEPs succeeded in ensuring that ships will have to gradually reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by cutting the amount of GHG in the energy they use (below 2020 level of 91.16 grams of CO2 per MJ) by 2% as of 2025, 6% as of 2030, 14,5% as of 2035, 31% as of 2040, 62% as of 2045 and 80% as of 2050. This would apply to ships above a gross tonnage of 5000, which are in principle responsible for 90% of CO2 emissions, and to all energy used on board in or between EU ports, as well as to 50% of energy used on voyages where the departure or arrival port is outside of the EU or in EU outermost regions.

MEPs also ensured that the Commission will review the rules by 2028 to decide whether to extend emission-cutting requirements to smaller ships or to increase the share of the energy used by ships coming from non-EU countries.

Thanks to MEPs, the deal gives more credits, as an incentive, in the form of offsetting emissions to those ship owners who use renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) from 2025 to 2034. The deal also set a 2% renewable fuels usage target as of 2034 if the Commission reports that in 2031 RFNBO amount to less than 1% in fuel mix.

Plugging ships to on shore power supply

According to the preliminary agreement, containerships and passenger ships will be obliged to use on-shore power supply for all electricity needs while moored at the quayside in major EU ports as of 2030. It will also apply to the rest of EU ports as of 2035, if these ports have an on-shore power supply. This should significantly reduce air pollution in ports.

Certain exemptions, such as staying at port for less than two hours, using own zero-emission technology or making a port call due to unforeseen circumstances or emergencies, will apply.

Quote

EP rapporteur Jörgen Warborn (EPP, SE) said: “This agreement sets out by far the world’s most ambitious path to maritime decarbonisation. No other global power has drafted such a comprehensive framework to tackle maritime emissions. This is truly ground-breaking.”

“This regulation will force others to move too. Europe will do its fair share, but European citizens and companies should not foot the bill for the entire world’s climate efforts.”

“We guarantee the sector long-term rules and predictability, so that they dare to invest. Shipping companies and ports can focus their resources on delivering the greatest climate benefits and the most value for money. This protects the jobs of seafarers, dockworkers and workers in the export industry, and sets an example for other countries to follow.”

Next steps

The informal deal on sustainable maritime fuels rules still needs to be approved by the Council Committee of Permanent Representatives and Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee, and then the Parliament and Council as a whole.

Background information

Transport was responsible for about a quarter of the EU’s total CO2 emissions in 2019, of which 14% came from water navigation, according to European Environment Agency. New rules on alternative fuel infrastructure and maritime fuel are part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”, which is the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels in line with the European Climate Law.

Source: EMM/ European Council

“The international armed conflict has led to a wide range of human rights violations affecting both civilians and combatants”, the executive summary states, adding that the Office has “verified numerous allegations of arbitrary deprivation of life, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, torture and ill-treatment, and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).”

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During the reporting period, a total of 5,987 civilian casualties were recorded, with 1,605 persons killed and 4,382 persons injured. Casualty numbers are likely far higher, as they only include verified incidents.

A large number of civilian casualties resulted from attacks involving explosive weapons with wide area effects.

“The war has taken a heavy toll on civilians, with acts of hostilities killing groups of individuals and in some cases multiple members of the same families at once”, the summary states.

Hitting the energy grid

Since October 2022, Russian strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure have killed at least 116 civilians and injured at least 379. Significant electricity shortages have followed, creating serious challenges for civiliansd through the cold winter months.

Infrastructure and housing have been heavily impacted too, with damage or destruction caused to 107 medical facilities and 179 educational buildings during the reporting period.

The right to security, health, work, education, housing, social support and services for persons with disabilities, and freedom of religion or belief, have also been infringed, according to the OHCHR report.

Summary executions

Some 21 civilians were killed during the reporting period by Russian armed forces, “both through summary executions and attacks on individual civilians.”

There were 214 documented cases (185 men, 24 women and 5 boys) of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions of civilians in territory of Ukraine that was or remains Russian occupied.

“Russian armed forces arrested victims in their homes, workplaces, in the street ,or at check points during so-called ‘filtration’ processes. OHCHR documented 10 cases (7 men, 3 women) of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions of media workers and human rights defenders” inside occupied territory.

A mother holds her child in their apartment, in a partially destroyed high-rise building in eastern Ukraine.

© UNICEF/Aleksey Filippov A mother holds her child in their apartment, in a partially destroyed high-rise building in eastern Ukraine.

Children disappeared

OHCHR said they were gravely concerned about the arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture or other ill-treatment of children by Russian armed forces. During the reporting period, the rights office documented the enforced disappearances of five boys between 14 and 17 years old.

“The children were all subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, and, in one case, the victim was deported to Belarus”, said the report.

35th Report on the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine

Source: OHCHR 35th Report on the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine

Sexual violence

From February 2022 to 31 January this year, OHCHR documented 133 cases of sexual violence related to the fighting (85 men, 45 women, 3 girls), the majority of which took place in territory occupied by Russia.

There are 109 cases attributable to Russian armed forces or Russian law enforcement and penitentiary staff, the report states.

During the reporting period, OHCHR documented three cases of rape against women in small communities where Russian armed forces were stationed.

OHCHR also documented transfers of civilians to areas in occupied territory or across the border into Russia, “some of which may amount to forced transfers or deportations.”

Rights violations in Ukrainian Government territory

Within parts of Ukraine controlled by the Government in Kyiv, OHCHR documented 91 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions (79 men, 12 women) committed by Ukrainian armed forces and law enforcement agencies.

Most detainees were arrested for suspicion of collaborating with, or helping in some way, Russian armed forces. OHCHR reported it had documented the arbitrary detention of 88 Russian civilian sailors who legally entered Ukraine before the start of the invasion last year, but were not thereafter allowed to disembark from their ships in the Odesa region.

Since 24 February last year, OHCHR has documented 24 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, in territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine. All cases occurred between March and July last year. “They mostly affected men and consisted predominantly of threats of sexual violence during the initial stages of detention”, said the report.

Hundreds of billions lost

In a new assessment of the damage caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the UN, World Bank, European Union and Ukrainian Government launched their second report and needs assessment on Thursday.

It shows that after a full year of fighting, direct damage to infrastructure and people’s lives is calculated at more than $135 billion and social and economic losses amount to $290 billion.

Housing, energy and the social sector are priorities for recovery and reconstruction, the assessment outlines, as well as addressing the damage and losses incurred in the agricultural sector, which alone is estimated at $40 billion.

Around 80 per cent of this amount is related to productive loss in the agricultural sector and caused by destroyed equipment and mined farming land.

Source: EMM/ United Nations

One year ago tomorrow, on 25 March 2022, the national authorities of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine set up of a joint investigation team (JIT) into alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine. Over the past 12 months, four more countries have joined the JIT, and Eurojust has developed a dedicated support structure that includes the establishment of a centralised database to collect, store and analyse evidence.

On 25 April 2022, one month after the signing of the JIT agreement between the national authorities of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) became a participant in the JIT. This is the first time the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC has ever participated in a JIT.

Representatives of the Ukraine JIT

The authorities of Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia joined the JIT on 30 May 2022 and Romania became a member on 13 October last year.

On 3 March 2023, the seven national authorities participating in the JIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States Department of Justice. The objective of the MoU is to enhance coordination between the JIT partner countries and the US authorities in their respective investigations in connection with the war in Ukraine.

Since March 2022, Eurojust has hosted 14 coordination meetings of the JIT and other national authorities who are investigating alleged core international crimes committed in Ukraine. The Agency provides legal, logistical, financial and analytical support to the JIT.

Eurojust strengthened mandate and the Core International Crimes Database

The war in Ukraine is the most documented armed conflict in the history of humankind. One year after the outbreak of the war, there are ongoing investigations in over 20 countries, including 14 EU Member States. With so many different stakeholders involved, the need for a central, secure repository of evidence soon became clear.

Consequently, the EU institutions agreed to extend Eurojust’s mandate. On 1 June 2022, Regulation 2022/838 entered into force, allowing Eurojust to set up a Core International Crimes Database (CICED). CICED is a unique, tailor-made judicial database to preserve, store and analyse evidence of core international crimes. CICED’s centralised approach will support national and international investigations by shedding light not only on individual offences but also on the systemic actions behind them.

More information on the EU’s response to the war and the support provided Ukraine and its people can be found in the General Report on the Activities of the European Union in 2022.

Guidelines for civil society organisations

On 21 September 2022, Eurojust, together with the EU Network for investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (‘Genocide Network’) and the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, published a set of guidelines to assist civil society organisations to collect and preserve information related to international crimes and human rights violations.

The objective of the guidelines is to ensure that any information that is collected can be used as evidence in future prosecutions at the national or international level.

International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

Statue of Lady JusticeOn 2 February 2023, the European Commission President Ms Ursula von der Leyen announced the creation of a new International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA). The ICPA will be part of the existing support structure for the JIT at Eurojust, with a specific focus on supporting and enhancing investigations into the crime of aggression.

At the United for Justice Conference held on 3-5 March in Lviv, Ukraine, the seven partner countries decided to amend the JIT agreement to reflect the future role of the ICPA. Details of the implementation are currently being discussed, but the main building blocks are expected to be in place by the summer.

For more information on all the actions taken by Eurojust since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, please consult our dedicated webpage. It includes a Q&A with answers to the most common questions and recordings of press conferences and other related events.

Source: EMM/ United Nations

On the 150th edition of the Teagasc Signpost webinar series, Professor Frank O Mara, Director of Teagasc outlined the technology pathway that Irish agriculture and Irish farmers should follow to achieve the required reductions in Greenhouse gas emissions, and the steps to take to sequester more carbon from the atmosphere.

Professor O’Mara spoke about the Teagasc Climate Action Strategy which the organisation is pursuing to put the three key pillars in place to assist the sector in making the journey towards a 25% reduction in emissions. He provided an update on the Signpost Advisory Programme and the staff resources being put in place with the aim of delivering 50,000 plans for farmers by 2030. He spoke about the development of a Sustainability Digital Platform, in partnership with ICBF and Bord Bia, to provide farmers with an indication of the climate performance of their farm business. The third pillar which involves a Virtual Climate Research Centre, is bringing together the combined resources of Teagasc to develop the mitigation technologies of the future which will be required to further reduce the footprint of the sector.

Professor O’Mara’s presentation marked the 150th edition of the Teagasc Weekly Environment Webinar Series, the Signposts series, which takes place weekly every Friday morning at 9.30am. The Signpost Series is presented in association with Dairy Sustainability Ireland, Food Drink Ireland Skillnet and the National Rural Network. To date the series has gone from strength to strength and has broadcast weekly episodes covering topics such as climate change, biodiversity, soil health, nutrient management and water quality.

The series has attracted a total audience to date of 50,871 viewers with some weekly attendances in excess of 400. Recordings and podcasts of all the webinars are available on the Teagasc website at https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change–air-quality/the-signpost-series-webinars/ .

Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc said; “The series has attracted audiences from across all sectors in Ireland together with a large international following. It has showcased the practical tangible steps being taken by farmers, advisors, researchers, policy makers and industry to maintain and improve the natural environment in which the agriculture and food sector operates.”

Mark Gibson, Head of KT Outreach and Innovation Department, Teagasc said; “The Friday morning Signposts series was one of the first Teagasc responses to find new ways of transferring knowledge to people in the sector, in the wake of the upheaval caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. I would like to thank our partners, presenters and facilitators and of course our many viewers and listeners over the last 3 years.”

To stay up to date with the latest policy, research and practice on Farm Sustainability, register for free at www.teagasc.ie/sustainableagriculture and tune in every Friday morning at 9.30am to 10.30am.

Source: EMM/ Agriculture and food department authoriy

MPs have approved plans to make street sexual harassment a crime carrying a jail sentence of up to two years.

Catcalling, following someone or blocking their path will become an offence in England and Wales under a bill backed by the government.

Sexual harassment is already illegal. The bill aims to improve enforcement and targets street harassment.

Conservative Greg Clark, who put it forward, said it was “astonishing” that this was not already a crime.

The move was unopposed, and now goes to the House of Lords for scrutiny.

Street harassment law being blocked, adviser says

Would you report or try to stop sexual harassment?

Street harassment ‘relentless’ for women

Mr Clark, a former business secretary, told MPs the intention of his bill was “to reinforce a change in the culture”.

“This closes a loophole in the law, as it has never has been a specific criminal offence to harass and intimidate intentionally a woman or a girl in public,” he told the BBC.

“Because it is not a specific crime, too many woman and girls think there is no point in reporting it to the police.

“This is something we don’t tolerate for racial harassment or harassment on the grounds of sexuality.”

Feeling unsafe

While targeted at changing behaviour towards women and girls, the proposals will apply equally to men and women.

The government backed the plans in December, meaning the changes are almost guaranteed to become law.

A survey by pollsters YouGov for the BBC, published last year, suggested two-thirds of women did not feel safe walking alone at night, at least some of the time.

Women and girls under 34 are most likely to be the target of sexual offences but the least likely to report them, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The CPS, which decides whether to take cases to court, recently updated its advice to staff about street harassment. The new guidelines also cover offences like exposure, stalking and sexual assault.

The murder of Sarah Everard, who was abducted and killed by serving policeman Wayne Couzens while walking home in south London in 2021, also increased concerns about women’s safety and male attitudes towards women.

Six months later, primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, 28, was murdered in south London by a man she had never met.

The private member’s bill will criminalise:

Deliberately walking closely behind someone as they walk home at night

Making obscene or aggressive comments towards a person in the street

Making obscene or offensive gestures towards a person in the street

Obstructing someone’s path

Driving or riding a vehicle slowly near someone making a journey

Harsher sentences will also be introduced, increasing the maximum jail term from six months to two years.

Speaking in the Commons, Tory MP Christopher Chope said the bill could lead to a deterioration in mental health in young men.

“A reasonable worry about assault appears to have morphed into an institutional misandry,” he told MPs.

“Sexual assault is bad and treating men as inherent sex pests is also bad.”

But Mr Chope did not vote against the bill.

Wolf-whistling

Campaigners have also called for wolf-whistling and staring intently to be criminalised.

Last July, then Home Secretary Priti Patel launched a consultation on making street harassment a specific crime. The Home Office has now concluded this should happen after “the significant majority” of respondents were in favour.

Last year, Independent Government Adviser for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Nimco Ali claimed the government had blocked such legislation.

Crime and policing minister Chris Philp told MPs the government was pleased to back the bill.

“This is only part of a wider piece of work to protect women and girls in particular.

“There is of course a lot more work to do. I look forward to working with colleagues in government and across the House.”

Last year, the Home Office launched a campaign encouraging people to call out harassment.

It’s called Enough, and you might have seen posters for it popping up on public transport over the past month or so.

The adverts suggest ways for people to intervene if they see someone being harassed.

Source: BBC

CAP 2023-2027: How is your farm affected?

On the 1st of January this year, a new five-year CAP period started. Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, tells us there are a number of important changes occurring in relation to the distribution of CAP payments that farmers need to know about.

The majority of farmers will have no issue meeting the new requirements, but there will be some farmers that will have to make changes at farm level to be eligible for the new schemes.

Name changes

BPS/Greening (Basic Payment Scheme) is now broken up in to three schemes: BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability); ECO (Eco-Scheme); and CRISS (Complementary Redistributive Support for Sustainability). BISS is the new name for entitlements with a lower value due to ECO and CRISS being removed. ECO scheme is worth €70-80/ha and application to join is voluntary. Farmers have to select two actions from a menu of eight actions to get the Eco payment. These actions are selected when making the annual BISS application. CRISS is a front loaded payment of €40/ha paid up to the first 30ha.

Convergence

Currently, all farmers are at or above 60% of the national average value of entitlements due to convergence in the last CAP period. This CAP period will increase convergence to 85% over the next five years. A lot of farmers in Co. Mayo will benefit from increased value of entitlements. There will also be a portion of farmers that will see their entitlement value fall over the next five years.

Active farmer

There are new requirements in CAP, effective since 01/01/2023, to ensure that farmers that are receiving payments are those that are actually farming. So how can farmers meet these active farmer requirements?

Have a minimum livestock of 0.1LU/ha for year;

Make hay/silage;

Topping;

Have equine grazing;

Eligible forestry.

Farmers will need receipts to prove they carried out some of these activities. Again, most farmers will automatically meet the requirements, while others will have to change their current system.

Agricultural activity

This is a check by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, at a parcel/field level using AMS (Areal Monitoring System). For parcels to pass the checks:

There needs to be an activity taking place on the parcel;

The applicant responsible for the parcel carries out the activity;

Applicant has a right to the land.

At application stage, farmers need to indicate what activity will occur on their parcels and this will be the basis on how checks will be carried out.

Minimum stocking levels required

There is a minimum of 0.1LU/ha for the year required for the following schemes:

ANC scheme;

Active farmer’s status (if using stock to comply);

Eco Scheme Option 2 (Extensive Livestock production).

Stocking rate coefficients

Dairy cow 1 LU 1-2 year old 0.6LU

Suckler cow 0.8LU 0-1 year old 0.4LU

2 year old male 1 LU Sheep 0.1LU

2 year old female 0.8LU Equine 0.8LU

Additional checks before making your BISS application

Herd number changes – Get this completed as soon as possible as it takes time and the BISS application is completed online.

Land changes – Addition or loss of parcels will effect ECO Scheme, entitlements usage.

Entitlements leasing/sales – Needs to be done at application time.

Young Farmers Scheme/National Reserve Application – substantial increase in payments. Ensure existing young farmers reapply again this year and new applicants apply on time.

With margins tight on drystock farms, it is important to complete BISS application correctly to safeguard this crucial source of income. With a lot of changes this year, it is important to complete this application on time well before the closing date of 29th May 2023.

Source: EMM/ Agriculture and food department authoriy