In order to support delivery of the NDA’s 2016 Strategy, a Problematic Waste Integrated Project Team (IPT) was established in May 2016. Its objective is to develop a co-ordinated and improved approach to the industry-wide management of problematic radioactive waste. The IPT is being led by LLW Repository Ltd and RWM on behalf of the NDA and includes engagement with a range of stakeholders. Documents related to the IPT can be found on this section of the website.

This report is produced by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and is updated weekly with findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – often referred to as bird flu – in wild birds in Great Britain.

These are findings of avian influenza from our ongoing routine surveillance for avian influenza in wild birds. This surveillance is made up of patrols by wild bird reserve wardens and collections of found-dead wild birds reported to us by members of the public. This data only represents cases where birds have tested positive for avian influenza.

Guidance

The guide to cross compliance in England 2017
(PDF, 2.65MB, 83 pages)

Appendix_GAEC 3 Groundwater
(PDF, 57.6KB, 1 page)

Appendix_SMR 13_Animal welfare
(PDF, 269KB, 8 pages)

What’s new in 2017

As explained in the ‘What’s new in 2017’ section of the guide, there’s only one change to the cross compliance rules for 2017. This change is to GAEC 1: Establishment of buffer strips along watercourses.

You’ll also find ‘Key dates in 2017’ on page 5 in the guide. This reminds you what you should and shouldn’t do to meet the rules throughout the year.

RPA has also created a video about what to expect during an inspection which is now under Cross compliance 2018.

Inspections and calculating penalties

For detailed information about inspections and penalties, read page 12 of ‘The guide to cross compliance in England 2017’ above.

If you’re inspected and the inspector finds something wrong, they use a set of standards called ‘verifiable standards’ to assess how serious the non-compliance is. This is based on the extent of the non-compliance and how severe and permanent it is.

RPA uses a guide to work out the penalty that is to be applied.

They also use a calculator to work out how severe a non-compliance is for cattle identification and registration for SMR 7.

Get a copy of these documents from ruralpayments@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Tell them which documents you want and use ‘Verifiable Standards 2017’ as the email heading.

These are the results from
cross compliance inspections in 2017
(PDF, 568KB, 22 pages)

– they show the reasons why farmers failed to meet each Statutory Management Requirement (SMR) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC).

The Greening Government Commitments set out the actions UK government departments and their agencies will take to reduce their impacts on the environment in the period 2016 to 2020.

They set out targets for UK government departments and their agencies to:

• reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
• send less waste to landfill and reduce the overall amount of waste they produce
• reduce water consumption

They also set out commitments for departments to

• improve sustainable procurement
• report transparently on key sustainability issues

They supersede the Greening Government Commitments for 2011 to 2015.

We have also published an overview of the reporting requirements for central government departments and their agencies.

We publish annual reports on performance against the Greening Government Commitments.

Midata is a method of electronically transferring customers’ data (with their consent), from a company system to a third party or price comparison website (PCW) using an Application Programming Interface (API). For an energy consumer, this means that they can use an application (app) or website developed by a PCW to compare energy tariffs using the actual usage/account details held by their current supplier. Midata makes comparing tariffs quicker and easier and enables more accurate comparisons. Midata also allows energy suppliers to develop customer acquisition tools, including apps, so customers can switch to a supplier without a PCW or Third Party Intermediary (TPI).

The government took powers in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 that would allow it to mandate third party electronic access to customers’ data in regulated sectors, including energy.

The government has developed a draft technical specification with the energy sector. There are, however, a number of practical implementation issues to consider in taking this forward. These include:

• how to derive maximise benefit for consumers
• how to ensure the quality of customer data suppliers provide
• who can access the data
• what safeguards should be in place to protect customers’ data from misuse

Responses to this call for evidence will be used to inform draft regulations.