Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) Scotland Bill

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The Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill was introduced on 6 November 2019 by Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing MSP.

Overview

The Bill gives powers for Scottish Ministers, by regulation to:

• • Make changes to “simplify or improve the operation of” any part of the CAP legislation.
  • Provide for the continued operation of the CAP legislation in domestic law in Scotland post-2020, with power to change how it operates and its financial provisions. For example, Scottish Ministers may by regulations set national ceilings for spending beyond 2020, modulate budgets (move money) between Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, and set a cap on payments paid to a single recipient.
  • Revoke, suspend or modify legislation on public intervention and private storage aid, which currently allows Governments to intervene in the market under exceptional circumstances to buy up and/or store products to support agricultural producers.
  • Amend the conditions for aid to fruit and vegetable producer organisations in ways that would simplify or improve the operation of this legislation.
  • Revoke the EU Food Promotion scheme.
  • Change the requirements for food marketed in Scotland.
  • Amend the classifications for beef, pig and sheep carcasses.
  • Amend the definition of agricultural activity.
  • Make requirements of people engaged in agricultural activity and in the agricultural supply chain to provide information on their activities.
  • Impose additional requirements for providing information.

A full SPICe briefing on the Bill is available.

Lead Committee: Rural Economy and Connectivity

Stage 1 consideration by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee 

Date	Action
26 February 2020	The Committee considered the Bill in private and agreed a draft report.
5 February 2020	The Committee received correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill
29 January 2020	The Committee received correspondence from the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill
15 January 2020	Fifth evidence session on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.
18 December 2019	Fourth evidence session on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.
6 December 2019	The Committee received correspondence from the Agriculture and Rural Development Division at the Scottish Government on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill
4 December 2019	Third evidence session on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.
27 November 2019	Second evidence session on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.
20 November 2019	First evidence session on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.
7 November 2019	The Committee received correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.

Consideration by other Scottish Parliament Committees 

Date	Action
6 February 2020	The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1.
4 February 2020	The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the Bill in private.
28 January 2020	The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the Bill in private.
17 January 2020	The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee received a response to its letter of 11 December 2019.
11 December 2019	The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform and the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy on the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill.
10 December 2019	The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the Bill in private.