24 March 2010 - 09/10
The Rural Payments Agency is urging farmers to submit their entitlements transfers well ahead of the April 4 deadline because this year the day falls over the Easter weekend.
That’s why RPA is reminding farmers to post their forms, or drop them into an RPA office, as soon as possible to ensure they arrive on time.
To help farmers avoid delays and possible rejection of the forms, RPA is also highlighting some common errors already found this year
These include making sure farmers have entered the correct SBI and CPH (land transfers) for the person they are transferring to, only crossing the merger or scission box if this applies and making sure the effective date they enter on the form is 43 days later than the date the RPA receive the form, not just six weeks.
It’s also essential the farmer makes sure he is correctly empowered to complete the transfer. If a farmers wants to sign a transfer form he must make sure that he is correctly authorised to do this before he sends the form in.
Even if a farmer has previously signed an SPS application form or other RPA forms, he still needs to be empowered before RPA can accept an entitlements transfer from him.
Farmers wishing to find out whether they are correctly empowered to transfer entitlements - and what to do if they are not – they are advised to call the RPA Customer Service Centre on 0845 603 7777. There are also some helpful FAQs on the RPA site www.rpa.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
RPA is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and is responsible for administering the Single Payment Scheme. Other key services include carrying out rural inspections and livestock tracing.
Media only contact: Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office , 0118 968 7680 caroline.forcer@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Page published: 24 March 2010