Project

Harmonisation of Cross-Compliance Rules

Cross compliance is a powerful instrument in the hands of the policy maker to support compliant behaviour in the agricultural production sectors at all levels. It is not only EU harmonisation that asks for effective implementation of a Cross Compliance policy: food safety and quality on EU level creates export possibilities to third countries.

This EU-Twinning project is a cooperation between the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in Turkey and partner organisations in The Netherlands, Estonia and France.

The General Directorate of Agricultural Reform, Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Department, is responsible for the implementation of the project in Turkey.

The overall objective is to contribute to the preparation of Turkey for the future implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU focused on the cross compliance system. It aims to share lessons learnt and tools or approaches from different Member States on the process of the implementation of cross-compliance to benefit operating this mechanism in Turkey too.

What is cross-compliance?

EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a work in progress. It has been regularly adapted to respond to new challenges. The latest reform of 2013 is the central focus in this project, by addressing EU’s Direct Payment Regime 2014-2020. The harmonisation with the link -through the cross-compliance system- between receipt of CAP support by farmers and respect of a set of basic rules, forms the backbone of our project. Farmers who do not comply with set standards and requirements are subject to reductions of -or exclusion from- direct support. Cross-compliance involves rules and requirements related to the main public expectations on environment, public and animal health, as well as animal welfare.

Why is cross-compliance important?

Cross-compliance helps make European farming more sustainable. The rules seek fostering measures important for society, for instance nitrate limits in fertilisation, protecting for Europe important habitats and species (Natura 2000), food safety, animal welfare, traceability of food from animals, biodiversity and climate change. As such the CAP becomes more beneficial for society at large.

Overview of the targets

  • Provide an overview of existing Cross Compliance prototypes in Turkey and corresponding administrative and control systems - like the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), Land Parcel Information System (LPIS) and Animal Identification and Registration (I&R) system - compared to EU's legal requirements;
  • Harmonise Turkish legislation with EU legislation related to Cross Compliance, by providing a draft legislation and amendments to existing legislation in the field of cross compliance;