Farmer Rights on Inspections and Payments

Farmer Rights on Inspections and Payments

Under the Charter of Rights, farmers have important rights in the following areas:

1.The Inspection noticeyou should be given

At the start of every inspection, the Department Inspector is obliged to introduce himself, provide identification, explain to the farmer the situation regarding notice and provide an advisory note setting out the notification details

Scheme / Notice
Single Farm Payment
Ground eligibility
Cross compliance on nitrates, animal health, Good Agricultural & Environmental Conditions, pesticides, habitats & birds, groundwater and sludge
Identification & registration of cattle, sheep & pigs
Cross compliance on food hygiene, feedstuffs and animal welfare / 14 days
14 days
48 hours
No notice
Disadvantaged Areas - ground eligibility / 14 days
REPS/AEOS / No notice
Suckler Cow Welfare / 48 hours
Sheep Grassland / 48 hours

Where an inspection covers a number of areas and schemes you can request that the inspection be broken down and spread over separate days in order that you receive your full notice for each area as outlined above.

2.Customer Service

In inspections and other contacts with the Department, the farmer is entitled to be treated fairly, promptly and with courtesy at all times. Officials are obliged to give their names to whoever they are dealing with.

3.Inspector’s Report

At the end of the inspection, the farmer is entitled to a copy of the inspector’s report before he leaves the farm.The farmer will be asked to sign the report, but is not obliged to do so. However, signing does not imply that the farmer accepts the findings of the inspection.
Furthermore the farmer can make written observations on the report about any aspect of the inspection.

4.Tolerances for Non-Compliance

The inspector is required to allow certain tolerances in respect of cattle and sheep identification and registration, including tag losses, register errors, passports, dispatch dockets, CMMS errors and sheep census issues.Details are set out in the Charter on

5.Review & Appeal

The farmer has a guaranteed right to seek a review regarding any decision to the Department of Agricultureand to appeal any decision to the Independent Agriculture Appeals office.

6.Payment Deadlines

The following payment deadlines are part of the Farmers’ Charter.

Scheme / 2012 Payment Deadline
Single Farm Payment
€1.24bn / First Advance – from October 16th*
Final Payment – from December 1st
Disadvantaged Area
€190m / Full payment from September
Suckler Cow Welfare
€25m / All year round – as soon as eligible cases are cleared
REPS 4
€170m / 75% payment – mid October
25% payment – mid December
AEOS
€50m / Similar to REPS
Sheep Grassland
€18m / December

*IFA will be demanding an advance payment from October 16th again this year