The Common Agricultural Policy - Health Check - 2008
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the main form of support to farmers in Europe. Major reforms in 2003, simplified previous subsidy payments into a single scheme, the Single Farm Payment Scheme. The 2003 reforms decoupled payments from production and made them conditional to meeting certain environmental, animal health and welfare and food safety requirements (known as cross-compliance).
As part of the ongoing reforms to the CAP, the European Commission has undertaking an initial consultation on the efficiency and effectiveness of current CAP measures and is now proposing new draft legislation. The legislation aims to make the direct aids system more effective and simpler, to make remaining market support measures more relevant to the world we live in and to tackle new challenges such as climate change, bio-fuels, water management and the protection of biodiversity. This consultation seeks views on what options best meet Scottish needs.