Cross Compliance

Cross Compliance aims at ensuring the safe production of food, the welfare of animals, the sustainable use of land, the maintenance of natural resources and limiting climate change. Some of the cross compliance requirements were first introduced in 2000 and developed further under the 2003 CAP reform. Cross Compliance applies to direct payments and certain rural development payments.

Cross Compliance is implemented under two main areas:

Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs): These SMRs refer to 13 legislative requirements in the field of the environment, food safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare. 

• SMR 1 Protection of water against pollution caused by nitrates.
• SMR 2 Conservation of Wild Birds.
• SMR 3 Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna.
• SMR 4 Food and Feed Hygiene.
• SMR 5 Restrictions on the use of substances having hormonal or thyrostatic action and beta-agonists in farm animals.
• SMR 6 Pig Identification and Registration.
• SMR 7 Cattle Identification and Registration.
• SMR 8 Sheep and goat Identification and Registration.
• SMR 9 Prevention and control of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs).
• SMR 10 Plant Protection Products (PPPs).