Inspection Process
For cross compliance, RPA conducts inspections covering Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards 1 to 18 and Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10*, 11* and 12. One other body – for cross compliance inspection purposes known as a Competent Control Authority (CCA) – is responsible for selecting and carrying out inspections on the remaining SMRs. In order to qualify for full direct payments these standards and requirements must be complied with.
The CCA responsibilities are as follows:
| CCA | Area of Responsibility |
| Rural Payments Agency | SMRs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10*, 11* & 12
GAECs 1 to 18 |
| Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency | SMRs 13 to 18 |
Each body is required by European legislation to inspect at least 1% of farm businesses submitting claims under the Single Payment Scheme and for other direct payments, and at least 1% of farm businesses that entered into new commitments under certain land-based rural development schemes from 1 January 2007. Each body will select and carry out inspections on the farm businesses that need to comply with the SMRs or SMRs and GAECs for which it has CCA responsibility. The results of all inspections are passed to RPA who, in its role as Paying Agency, will take them into account in determining the payments due under each of the schemes.
Where non-compliance with the SMRs or GAECs is found, the level of seriousness of the breach will be assessed by the inspector with regard to the criteria set out in the EC Regulations, namely extent, severity, permanence and repetition, as per the inspectors’ Verifiable Standards for England. Payment reductions and exclusions may only be applied where the farmer acted negligently (or intentionally) and so inspectors also assess whether or not reasonable care had been taken or whether reasonable skill and/or foresight had been exercised.
* RPA use information provided by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to undertake checks of SMR 10 and part of SMR 11.
Page published: 30 December 2011