The latest reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) officially came into force in 10 member states of the Union on 1st January 2005. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden and the UK in fact represent the “pioneers” for the application of the new regime of single payment per farm, as a result of which most Community aid to farmers will be paid out independently of the volume of production (with a decrease of direct payments for big farms), though without touching the principle of “minimum guaranteed income” and on condition that a series of fundamental provisions on the environment, food safety, plant health and the well being of livestock be respected. The regime of single payment will be applied in 2005 inter alia to the sectors of cereals, meat and milk, and will be accompanied by new investments relating to rural development. Finland, France, Greece, Holland and Spain have chosen to adopt the reform from 2006 on. For further information, http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/capreform/index_fr.htm
