Cross compliance is a mandatory set of requirements and standards that land managers have to meet in order to receive support scheme payments including the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support Schemes.
There are two main elements to cross compliance -
Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs): existing EU legislative requirements relating to public health, animal and plant health, environmental protection and animal welfare.
Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC): a range of standards developed to address soil erosion, soil organic matter, soil structure, ensuring a minimum level of maintenance, avoiding the deterioration of habitats and protection and management of water.
Failure to meet any of the cross compliance requirements and standards could result in a payment reduction being applied to support scheme payments.
For further information please see the cross compliance publications updated listed in the cross compliance guidance section.