G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
2 March  2023 
(23-1437) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated 28 February  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United Kingdom . The notification concerns new or modified domestic support 
measures exempt from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 
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 G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  Table DS:2   
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED KINGDOM  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Bovine TB Measures:  
• Tuberculosis (TB) Advisory Service (TBAS) Successor Contract  
• Farming Community Network (FCN) Grant  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006; Section 98 . 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
Both measures are aimed at tackling Bovine Tuberculosis (TB).  
• The TB Advisory Service (TBAS) provides a free of char ge, on -demand, Bovine TB biosecurity 
advice service for keepers of cattle and farmed non -bovine species (South American camelids, 
deer, goats, pigs and sheep) in England.  
• The Farming Community Network (FCN) Grant is a grant to enable the FCN to continue to  
provide comprehensive support and care for the practical and pastoral needs of the farming 
community, specifically to allow farmers and their families whose livelihood and wellbeing are 
seriously impacted by a Bovine TB breakdown in their cattle or dairy herd to build future 
resilience, for example, by providing training, improving uptake of bio -security guidelines, and 
increased engagement with the  TB Advisory Service.  
The territorial extent of both measures will be limited to England.  
Both measures are c lassified as Green Box support. The grants comply with Annex 2, Paragraph 1 
as (a) they are publicly funded government programmes and do not involve transfers from 
consumers; and (b) the supports do not have the effect of providing price support to produce rs. In 
addition, both measures meet the policy -specific criteria set out in:  
Paragraph 2 - General Services  
The TBAS benefits the agricultural community by facilitating control of Bovine TB and does not make 
any direct payments to producers or processors. It fits within the policy specific criteria of:  
2b. Pest and Disease Control, including general and product -specific pest and disease 
control measures; and  
2d. Extension and Advisory Services  
The FCN provides advisory service to agricultural producers and fits within the specific conditions of:  
2d.  Extension and Advisory Services,  including the provision of means to facilitate the transfer 
of information and the results of research to producers and consumers.  
No direct payments to agricultura l producers or processors will be made under FCN.  G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  (4) COST OF MEASURE:  
• TBAS: The total cost of the measure is GBP 900,000 per annum  
• FCN Grant: The total cost of the measure is GBP 95,000 per annum  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
• TBAS: 5 October 2021  
• FCN Grant: 1 November 2022  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
• TBAS: October 2021 to September 2024  
• FCN Grant: November 2022 to October 2024  
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
• TBAS: Live bovine animals; live swine; live sheep and goats; other live animals (camelids and 
farmed deer)  
• FCN Grant: The support is not specific to an agricultural product  G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  Table DS:2   
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED KINGDOM  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measur es exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) programme transitioning schemes:  
• Agricultural Diversification  
• Growing for the Environment  
• Horticulture Development  
• Nutrients Management Investment  
• Organic Conversion s cheme  
• Small Grants – Efficiency  
• Small Grants – Environment  
• Small Grants – Horticulture Start -Up 
• Small Grants – Yard Coverings  
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Retained EU Law Council Regulation 1305/2013 via The Agricultural Support (Miscellaneous 
Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)  
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
The nine schemes listed above are aimed to help farmers smoothly transition from the Basic Payment 
Scheme (BPS) in Wales to the proposed future Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS). These transition 
schemes are distinctly  designed to provide each of the following supports:  
• Agricultural Diversification: to  expand or develop non -mainstream agricultural enterprises, 
e.g., sheep milking  
• Growing for the Environment: to encourage agricultural diversification and the growing of 
crops to provide environmental benefit  
• Horticulture Development: to  enable existing horticulture producers to diversify, improve 
production efficiency, and enhance quality  
• Nutrients Management Investment: to  enhance nutrient management and improve water, ai r 
and soil quality  
• Organic Conversion scheme: to encourage conversion of land to organic farming systems.  
• Small Grants: Efficiency: to enable investment in and purchase of new equipment and 
technology that will enhance the technical, financial (cost saving ) and environmental 
performance of farm businesses  
• Small Grants - Environment: to  enable on -farm environmental improvements, such as 
hedgerow restoration and creation, tree planting, etc.  
• Small Grants - Horticulture Start -Up: to encourage the establishment  of start -up horticultural 
businesses or new horticultural enterprises within established farming businesses.  G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  • Small Grants - Yard Coverings: to enhance nutrient management through investment in 
existing on -farm infrastructure for the separation of rain/cl ean water from dirty water, animal 
slurry, animal manure or silage effluent.  
The territorial extent for all the schemes will be limited to Wales.  
All the schemes are classified as Green Box support. They comply with Annex 2, Paragraph 1 as (a) 
they are pu blicly funded government programmes and do not involve transfers from consumers; 
and (b) the supports provided do not have the effect of providing price support to producers.  
In addition, the schemes meet the policy specific criteria set out in:  
Paragraph 11 - Structural adjustment assistance provided through investment aids  
• Small Grants - Agricultural Diversification  
Eligibility for payments is limited to capital grant support to agricultural enterprises to expand 
or develop non -mainstream agricultural enterprises. For example, to support producers facing 
structural disadvantages to diversify income streams (e, g., through sheep milk farming) and 
restructure their businesses  
• Small Grants - Efficiency  
Eligibility for payments is limited to ca pital grant support to purchase equipment and 
technology that increases the efficiency of farm business.  
• Horticulture Development  
Eligibility for payments will be limited to providing support to existing horticulture producers 
to mitigate the significant c hallenges the industry faces, through assistance to better adapt to 
a changing economic environment.  
The amount of payment for each of the above schemes are not related to, or based on, (b) the type 
or volume of production or (c) prices. Further, the payme nts (d) are limited to the time needed to 
determine the investment to diversify, increase efficiency of, and develop the farm businesses, 
respectively and (e) do not mandate the agricultural products to be produced. As per 11(f), the 
amount of payment is l imited to compensating for the structural disadvantage.”  
Paragraph 12 - Payments under environmental programmes  
Eligibility for payments for the following five schemes are dependent on fulfilling the aims of a 
number of Welsh Government’s programs, includi ng the Clean Air Delivery Plan (2020), with the 
payments being limited to the costs incurred and income foregone, as per Paragraph 12(b).  
• Small Grants - Yard Coverings  
To strengthen the control of emissions and support the agriculture sector to farm sustai nably 
through nutrient management and other methods.  
• Nutrients Management Investment  
To provide infrastructure investment to enhance on -farm nutrient management and improve 
water, air and soil quality.  
• Growing for the Environment  
To enable emissions reduc tion at the pace and scale demanded by our legal climate targets.    G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  • Organic Conversion scheme  
To encourage conversion of land to organic systems which will enable emissions reduction at 
the pace and scale demanded by our legal climate targets.  
• Small Grant s – Environment  
To enable emissions reduction at the pace and scale demanded by our legal climate targets.  
• Small Grants – Horticulture Start -Up  
Eligibility for payments is dependent on contributing to emissions reduction, supporting the 
pace and scale demanded by our legal climate targets.   
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The total cost of the nine measures is GBP 47.6 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
• Growing for the Environment: June 2022  
• Horticulture Development: April 2022  
• Nutrients Management In vestment: July 2022  
• Organic Conversion scheme: August 2022  
• Small Grants - Agricultural Diversification: November 2022  
• Small Grants – Efficiency: May 2022  
• Small Grants – Environment: April 2022  
• Small Grants – Horticulture Start -Up: May 2022  
• Small Gran ts – Yard Coverings: June 2022  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
• Growing for the Environment: June 2022 to March 2025  
• Horticulture Development: April 2022 to March 2025  
• Nutrients Management Investment: July 2022 to March 2025  
• Organic Conversion scheme: August 2022 to March 2025  
• Small Grants – Agricultural Diversification: November 2022 to March 2025  
• Small Grants – Efficiency: May 2022 to March 2025  
• Small Grants – Environment: April 2022 to March 2025  
• Small Grants – Horticulture Start -Up: May 2022 to Marc h 2025  
• Small Grants – Yard Coverings: June 2022 to March 2025  
 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
• Growing for the Environment scheme – The support is for a range of crops (but not limited to) 
known to provide an environment al benefit, as follows:  
o Mixed leys  
o Protein crops,  
o Unsprayed cereals,  
o Cover crops, etc.  
• For the rest of the schemes, the support is not specific to an agricultural product.  
 G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  Table DS:2   
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: UNITED KINGDOM  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) schemes:   
• Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF)   
• England Woodland Creation Offer   
• Forestr y England Woodland Partnership (Leasehold Model)   
• Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF)   
• Peatland Grant Scheme   
• Seed Sourcing Grant (SSG)   
• Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG)   
• Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF)   
• Trees Call to Action Fund (TCAF)   
• Wood land Creation Partnerships (WCPs) Project   
• Woodlands for Water   
• Woodlands into Management Forestry Innovation Funds   
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
• Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 153;   
• Forestry Act 1967;   
• Forestry Act 1979;   
• Local Government Act 2003, section 31   
• Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006;   
• Environment Act 2021 . 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
The Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) programme aims to provide aid for peatland restora tion, tree 
planting (initial afforestation of agricultural land), and species restoration in England to tackle the 
global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss in the terrestrial environment. While some 
measures are related to the above -stated aim s, the NCF is a wider programme actioning extending 
and enhancing protected areas within England to protect 30% of its land and sea by 2030; 
introducing planning, partnerships, and financing for nature recovery.  
Some of the measures relating to woodlands p rovide funding to agricultural producers and other 
landowners and land managers:   
• to create woodlands that comply with the UK Forestry Standard.   
• to plant and manage woodlands on the land of landowners in return for an annual rent 
payment.   
• to determine what can be achieved through planting measures, and what co -financing can be 
brought in, to meet different objectives and to maximise value for money for Defra.    
• fund innovation, research and development to improve the condition of woodland habi tats in 
England.   
• creating a network of riparian woodland corridors.   G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  Measures specifically focused on tree production aim to enhance the quantity, quality, and diversity 
of planting stock available for planting within England and aims to establish trees o utside woodland 
in England, while protecting the existing trees and woodland to ensure that we have at least 12% 
woodland cover by the middle of the century.   
The NCF programme is also designed to support broader nature based projects designed to deliver 
environmental outcomes aligned with the UK Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, such as 
cleaner air and water, thriving plants and wildlife, a reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards 
such as flooding and drought, using natural resources m ore sustainably and efficiently, etc. The 
funding will generate revenues from ecosystem services to attract and repay investment.   
The territorial extent of the NCF measures will be limited to England.    
This notification covers 12 Nature for Climate Fund schemes (as listed above), all of which are 
classified as Green Box support.   
The measures under NCF comply with Annex 2, Paragraph 1 as they are (a) funded by publicly 
funded government programmes and do  not involve transfers from consumers; and (b) payme nts 
under these measures do not have the effect of providing price support to producers.    
The measures within NCF also meet the policy specific criteria listed under the Annex 2:   
Paragraph 2 - General Services  
2a. Research:   
Woodlands into Management For estry Innovation Funds (WiMFIF)  
The measure will benefit rural communities by funding research into improving the ecological 
management of existing woodlands by woodland management companies, conservation bodies and 
research organisations.   
Tree Production  Innovation Fund (TPIF)  
TPIF is a fund designed to bring together research partnerships to advance new technologies and 
processes in the nursery sector. Eligibility for payments is limited to applicant’s ability to successfully 
demonstrate that their proje ct will enhance the quantity, quality, and diversity of tree planting stock 
available for planting in England.   
2c. Training Services:    
Trees Call to Action Fund (TCAF)  
The TCAF benefits rural communities by providing training, including, but not limited to, entry level, 
specialist services related to tree management.   
2d. Extension and Advisory Services:   
Trees Call to Action Fund (TCAF)   
The TCAF also benefits rural communities by providing advice on suitability to apply to other grant 
schemes for tree p lanting based on information and research the partnership has available.   
Woodlands for Water    
The measure benefits agricultural communities by advising suitable landowners to apply the relevant 
NCF measures.   G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  2f. Marketing and Promotion Services:   
Trees Call to Action Fund (TCAF)   
TCAF will offer marketing and promotion services to promote other existing grants under the NCF 
programme.   
None of the schemes under Paragraph 2  make any direct payments to producers or processors.   
Paragraph 11: Structural Adjustment Assistance provided through Investment Aids   
Seed Sourcing Grant (SSG)  
The grant is designed to support and improve the physical restructuring of producers’ seed 
operations including by supporting activities such as the management of registered seed stands, 
desk/field studies to identify further in -situ seed sources for registration and use and the planning 
and planting of new ex -situ and in -situ seed sources. Payments shall be determined by assessing 
the bids on the impr ovements they can make via clearly defined evaluation criteria.  
Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG)  
Eligibility for payments is limited to funding for the modernisation of tree nursery or seed processing 
facilities, including through mechanisation and aut omation, in response to demonstration of a need 
for equipment/machinery by applicants.    
As such, the amount of payment for each of the above schemes are not related to or based on (b) 
the type or volume of production or (c) prices. Further, the payments ( d) are limited to  the applicable 
period  for each scheme  and (e) do not mandate the agricultural products to be produced. As per 
11(f), the amount of payment is limited to compensating for the structural disadvantage.”   
Paragraph 12: Payments under Environm ental Programmes.    
Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF)   
Eligibility for BNIF investment is limited to a clear criterion identifying which projects can receive 
financing and what the financing aims to achieve.    
England Woodland creation Offer   
Eligibility for p ayments is limited to applicants with plans to create woodlands which comply with the 
UK Forestry Standard.  
Forestry England Woodland Partnership lease product   
Eligibility for payments is limited to landowners who have leased their land for woodland creat ion. 
The maximum payment rates for rent have been established by economists and market -tested and 
represent payment for income forgone only. Each rent will be negotiated according to the natural 
capital benefits offered by the applicant to ensure best valu e for money.     
Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF)   
Eligibility for payment is determined by a clear set of criteria that ensures work will meet the 
objectives of the Nature for Climate Fund programme, which LATF sits within. Payments will be 
limited t o the cost of carrying out work agreed under the LATF.   
Peatland Grant Scheme   
Eligibility for payments is limited to habitat and soil management and work(s) associated with 
moving a peatland along the restoration trajectory towards a fully functioning eco system. The grant G/AG/N/GBR/18  
 
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  supports activities linked to the re -hydration of degraded peats and the re -establishment of peat 
forming plant communities.  
Woodland Creation Partnership   
The common aim of workstreams under this grant is to create woodlands through loc ally led new 
and existing partnerships with the Great Northumberland Forest, Forests for Cornwall, the Northern 
Forest, the National Forest Company, and England’s Community Forests. Eligibility for payments is 
limited to landowners and other stakeholders p lanting woodlands.  
Woodland into Management  Forestry Innovation Funds (WiMFIF)   
The aim of WiMFIF is to help with restoration of woodland habitats including woodlands that have 
not been managed for some time and those suffering from high level of damages resulting from 
animal species.  
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The total cost of the programme is GBP 640 million.  
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
April 2021   
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
The measures will operate from April 2021 to August 2027   
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
The support is not specific to an agricultural product.    
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