Decoupling red tape may trip up some farmers
April 2004 is the earliest date predicted for final agreement on the European Commission’s detailed rules on decoupling, which must be published before the Department of Agriculture can establish single farm payment entitlements for each farmer. IFA and ICMSA have expressed concerns at the many grey areas remaining in the decoupling system, which promises to revolutionise EU farming in 2005.
They fear the ‘devil in the detail’ could become an issue for farmers who do not find favour with some of the legal conditions which will be attached to the Single Payment.
