Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024
2024 asp 11An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision enabling the support of agriculture, rural communities and the rural economy through the creation of a framework for that support; to make provision for continuing professional development for those involved in agriculture and related industries, to make provision in relation to the welfare and identification of animals, to repeal spent and superseded agricultural enactments; and for connected purposes.
Enacted
The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 18th June 2024 and received Royal Assent on 30th July 2024
Part 1 Objectives and planning¶
I1I731 Overarching objectives of agricultural policy¶
I2I742 Rural support plan¶
I3I753 Rural support plan: matters to be considered¶
I4I764 Rural support plan: engagement¶
I5I775 Reports on rural support plan¶
Part 2 Support for agriculture, rural development and related matters¶
Power to provide support¶
I6I786 Power to provide support¶
I7I797 Funding third party support¶
General provision about support¶
I8I808 Form of support and conditions¶
I9I819 Guidance¶
I10I8210 Delegation¶
I11I8311 Power to cap support and assistance¶
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“payment period” means any specified period relating to the payment of support,
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“relevant assistance” means financial assistance provided by the Scottish Ministers under or by virtue of another enactment (including, in particular, assimilated law governing the CAP direct payment schemes and assimilated direct CAP legislation) for a purpose similar to a purpose described in schedule 1,
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“specified” means specified in regulations under subsection (1).
I12I8412 Refusal or recovery of support where in the public interest¶
Intervention in agricultural markets¶
I13I8513 Exceptional market conditions: powers available to Scottish Ministers¶
I14I8614 Declaration relating to exceptional market conditions¶
Administrative matters, eligibility and enforcement¶
I15I8715 Regulations about support¶
I16I8816 Eligibility criteria for support¶
I17I8917 Payment entitlements¶
I18I9018 Checking, enforcing and monitoring support¶
I19I9119 Publication of information about support¶
Regulations under section 15(2)(h) may, in particular, make provision—I20I9220 Processing of information¶
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“the data protection legislation” has the meaning given by section 3(9) of the Data Protection Act 2018,
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“processing” is to be construed in accordance with section 3(4) of the Data Protection Act 2018,
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“public authority” means a public authority in any part of the United Kingdom,
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“relevant assistance” means financial assistance provided by the Scottish Ministers under or by virtue of another enactment (including, in particular, assimilated law governing the CAP direct payment schemes and assimilated direct CAP legislation) for a purpose similar to a purpose described in schedule 1,
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“specified” means specified in, or determined under, regulations under subsection (1).
I21I9321 Monitoring and evaluation of schemes¶
Part 3 Powers to modify existing legislation relating to support¶
Powers in relation to relevant CAP legislation¶
I22I6422 Power to simplify, improve or update relevant CAP legislation¶
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,
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I23I6523 Power to continue or end the operation of relevant CAP legislation¶
,
I24I6624 Power to modify financial provision in relevant CAP legislation¶
I25I6725 Repeal of section 5¶
Section 5 of the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Act 2020 is repealed.I26I6826 Public intervention and private storage aid¶
,
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I27I6927 Power to modify CAP legislation on aid for fruit and vegetable producer organisations¶
I28I7028 Apiculture¶
After section 7 of the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Act 2020 insert—.
Part 4 Miscellaneous¶
I29I9429 Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture¶
I30I9530 Continuing professional development¶
I31I9631 Monitoring and evaluation of continuing professional development¶
I32I7232 Prescribing and regulating means of identifying animals¶
,
I33I9733 Food security statements¶
I34I9834 Repeals and minor modifications¶
Part 5 Final provisions¶
I3535 Regulations¶
I3636 Ancillary provision¶
I3737 Index of defined terms¶
In this Act—-
“exceptional market conditions” is to be construed in accordance with section 14(2),
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“exceptional market conditions declaration” has the meaning given in section 14(1),
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“financial support” is to construed in accordance with section 6(4),
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“payment entitlement” is to be construed in accordance with section 17(2),
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“rural support plan” is to be construed in accordance with section 2(9),
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“support” is to be construed in accordance with section 6(4),
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“third party scheme” is to be construed in accordance with section 7(2).
I3838 Commencement¶
I3939 Short title¶
The short title of this Act is the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024.Schedule 1 ¶
Purposes of support
(introduced by section 6)
Part 1 General¶
I40I991 Application¶
Part 2 Agriculture, food and drink¶
I41I1002 Farming etc.¶
I42I1013 Particular products or sectors¶
I43I1024 Food and drink¶
Part 3 Forestry¶
I44I1035 Forestry¶
Part 4 Rural communities and economy¶
I45I1046 Venison supply chains and infrastructure¶
Assisting persons who work in, operate, or seek to establish venison supply chains and infrastructures, such as deer larders and access to carcass removal.I46I1057 Rural communities¶
I47I1068 Community benefits¶
Assisting persons to create community benefits, including—I48I1079 Investing in rural businesses and enterprises¶
I49I10810 Knowledge, innovation, education and training¶
I50I10911 Integrated land management¶
I51I11012 Quality schemes and producer groups¶
Assisting persons to establish or participate in—I52I11113 Preservation of historic and cultural sites¶
Assisting persons to protect or enhance the conditions of sites of historic or cultural interest.I53I11214 Recreational access to land¶
Assisting persons to provide, maintain, facilitate and improve access for recreation to land (including land covered with water) in rural areas.I54I11315 Nature-based economy¶
Assisting persons to invest in nature-based enterprises in rural areas.Part 5 Rural land management and the environment¶
I55I11416 Plants and soil¶
Assisting persons to promote, protect or improve—I56I11517 Greenhouse gases and climate change¶
I57I11618 Natural environment¶
I58I11719 Animals¶
Part 6 Administrative and technical support and monitoring¶
I59I11820 Administrative and technical support¶
Assisting persons to—I60I11921 Monitoring and reporting on effectiveness of support¶
Assisting persons to monitor, gather data, prepare reports on, or otherwise provide information in relation to assessing the effectiveness of support provided under this Act.Schedule 2 ¶
Repeals and minor modifications
(introduced by section 34)
I63I71Part 1 Repeals and revocations¶
| Enactment | Extent of repeal or revocation |
|---|---|
| Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 | Section 4. |
| Section 6. | |
| Small Holding Colonies (Amendment) Act 1918 | Section 1. |
| Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919 | Section 1(1) and (2). |
| Section 3. | |
| Section 5. | |
| Section 6(5). | |
| In section 7, the words “, or the Small Holding Colonies Acts, 1916 and 1918,”. | |
| Section 8. | |
| Section 26. | |
| Schedule 1. | |
| Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1926 | The whole Act. |
| Agricultural Land (Utilisation) Act 1931 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1943 | The whole Act. |
| Hill Farming Act 1946 | In section 1(3), the definitions of “livestock rearing land” and “livestock rearing purposes”. |
| Section 24(4). | |
| Section 34. | |
| In section 38, the definitions of “livestock rearing land” and “livestock rearing purposes”. | |
| Agriculture (Artificial Insemination) Act 1946 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948 | Section 35. |
| In section 55, paragraph (d). | |
| Section 56. | |
| Section 57. | |
| Sections 63 to 65. | |
| Section 70. | |
| Section 73. | |
| Section 75. | |
| Section 76. | |
| Schedule 3. | |
| Schedule 8. | |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1949 | The whole Act. |
| Livestock Rearing Act 1951 | |
| Section 1(3). | |
| Section 8. | |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture Act 1957 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture Act 1958 | In section 9(1), the definitions of “agricultural holding”, “lease”, ““landlord” and “tenant””, “Land Court”, “Scottish Act of 1948” and “Scottish Act of 1949”. |
| Section 10(4) and (5). | |
| Agricultural Marketing Act 1958 | Section 22. |
| Sections 24 to 27. | |
| Section 28(1) and (6). | |
| Section 32(1) to (3). | |
| Section 33. | |
| In section 47(1), the words “or in any recommendations of an Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission published in pursuance of this Act”. | |
| In section 47(2), the words “or Agricultural Marketing Reorganisation Commission”. | |
| Section 51. | |
| In Part 6 of schedule 3, paragraph 6. | |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1963 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture Act 1967 | Sections 26 to 29. |
| Section 35. | |
| Section 37. | |
| Section 39. | |
| Section 40. | |
| Sections 45 to 57. | |
| Section 63. | |
| Section 64. | |
| Sections 68 to 72. | |
| Section 74. | |
| In section 75(2), the definitions of “appropriate minister”, “assignment”, “heritable security”, “land”, “local authority” and “pension”. | |
| Section 75(3) to (7). | |
| Schedules 3 to 7. | |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 | In section 8(1), the definition of “agricultural land”. |
| Section 8(3). | |
| Section 46. | |
| Agriculture Act 1970 | Section 29. |
| Section 30. | |
| Section 32. | |
| Section 33. | |
| Section 106. | |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1972 | Section 9(2) to (5). |
| Section 10. | |
| Section 12. | |
| Section 16. | |
| Section 17. | |
| Section 18. | |
| Section 24. | |
| Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 | Section 6. |
| Pig Industry Levy Act 1983 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture (Amendment) Act 1984 | The whole Act. |
| Food Act 1984 | The whole Act. |
| Agriculture Act 1986 | Sections 17 to 20. |
| Section 23A. | |
| Farm Land and Rural Development Act 1988 | Section 1. |
| Section 3. | |
| Section 4. | |
| Food Safety Act 1990 | In schedule 2, paragraphs 12 to 15. |
| Agriculture and Forestry (Financial Provisions) Act 1991 | Section 3. |
| Agriculture Act 1993 | Sections 1 to 19. |
| Sections 22 to 24. | |
| Section 54(3). | |
| Section 56. | |
| Section 58. | |
| Section 60. | |
| In section 62(4), “17, 23,”. | |
| The Scotland Act 1998 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2000 | In the schedule, paragraphs 1, 2 and 6. |
| Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 | In schedule 12, paragraph 31. |
| Agriculture (Retained EU Law & Data) (Scotland) Act 2020 | Section 8. |
Part 2 Minor modifications¶
.
Footnotes
- I1S. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I2S. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I3S. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I4S. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I5S. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I6S. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I7S. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I8S. 8 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I9S. 9 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I10S. 10 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I11S. 11 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I12S. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I13S. 13 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I14S. 14 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I15S. 15 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I16S. 16 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I17S. 17 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I18S. 18 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I19S. 19 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I20S. 20 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I21S. 21 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I22S. 22 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I23S. 23 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I24S. 24 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I25S. 25 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I26S. 26 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I27S. 27 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I28S. 28 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I29S. 29 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I30S. 30 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I31S. 31 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I32S. 32 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I33S. 33 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I34S. 34 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I35S. 35 in force at 31.7.2024, see s. 38(1)
- I36S. 36 in force at 31.7.2024, see s. 38(1)
- I37S. 37 in force at 31.7.2024, see s. 38(1)
- I38S. 38 in force at 31.7.2024, see s. 38(1)
- I39S. 39 in force at 31.7.2024, see s. 38(1)
- I40Sch. 1 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I41Sch. 1 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I42Sch. 1 para. 3 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I43Sch. 1 para. 4 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I44Sch. 1 para. 5 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I45Sch. 1 para. 6 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I46Sch. 1 para. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I47Sch. 1 para. 8 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I48Sch. 1 para. 9 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I49Sch. 1 para. 10 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I50Sch. 1 para. 11 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I51Sch. 1 para. 12 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I52Sch. 1 para. 13 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I53Sch. 1 para. 14 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I54Sch. 1 para. 15 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I55Sch. 1 para. 16 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I56Sch. 1 para. 17 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I57Sch. 1 para. 18 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I58Sch. 1 para. 19 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I59Sch. 1 para. 20 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I60Sch. 1 para. 21 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I61Sch. 2 para. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I62Sch. 2 para. 2 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I63Sch. 2 Pt. 1 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 38(2)
- I64S. 22 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I65S. 23 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I66S. 24 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I67S. 25 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I68S. 26 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I69S. 27 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I70S. 28 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I71Sch. 2 Pt. 1 in force at 16.6.2025 for specified purposes by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2, sch.
- I72S. 32 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I73S. 1 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I74S. 2 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I75S. 3 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I76S. 4 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I77S. 5 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I78S. 6 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I79S. 7 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I80S. 8 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I81S. 9 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I82S. 10 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I83S. 11 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I84S. 12 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I85S. 13 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I86S. 14 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I87S. 15 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I88S. 16 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I89S. 17 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I90S. 18 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I91S. 19 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I92S. 20 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I93S. 21 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I94S. 29 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I95S. 30 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I96S. 31 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I97S. 33 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I98S. 34 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I99Sch. 1 para. 1 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I100Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I101Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I102Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I103Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I104Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I105Sch. 1 para. 7 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I106Sch. 1 para. 8 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I107Sch. 1 para. 9 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I108Sch. 1 para. 10 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I109Sch. 1 para. 11 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I110Sch. 1 para. 12 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I111Sch. 1 para. 13 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I112Sch. 1 para. 14 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I113Sch. 1 para. 15 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I114Sch. 1 para. 16 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I115Sch. 1 para. 17 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I116Sch. 1 para. 18 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I117Sch. 1 para. 19 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I118Sch. 1 para. 20 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I119Sch. 1 para. 21 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I120Sch. 2 para. 1 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)
- I121Sch. 2 para. 2 in force at 16.6.2025 by S.S.I. 2025/167, reg. 2(1)