Meet environmental compliance requirements
- 1 step
UK Act of Parliament
2020
United Kingdom
Agriculture Act 2020
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
11 compliance obligations, 12 practical guides · 10 journeys · 3 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
2 of 11 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 1 carries different penalties and 8 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 3
Plus 8 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
5 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
7 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part 1 — Financial assistance
Multi-annual financial assistance plans
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must publish multi-annual financial assistance plans Crown / Minister / Government department
Annual and other reports on amount of financial assistance given
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must publish annual reports on financial assistance given Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 16 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Secretary of State's powers to give financial assistance
Financial assistance: forms, conditions, delegation and publication of information
Financial assistance: checking, enforcing and monitoring
Monitoring impact of financial assistance etc
Meaning of “basic payment scheme” and other expressions in Chapter 2
The agricultural transition period for England and the termination of relevant payments
Power to modify legislation governing the basic payment scheme
Power to provide for the continuation of the basic payment scheme beyond 2020
Power to provide for phasing out direct payments
Power to make delinked payments
Power to provide for lump sum payments in lieu of relevant payments
General provision connected with payments to farmers and other beneficiaries
Aid for fruit and vegetable producer organisations
Support for rural development
Continuing EU programmes: power to provide financial assistance
Assimilated direct legislation
Part 2 — Food and agricultural markets
Duty to report to Parliament on UK food security
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must report to Parliament on UK food security Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3 — Transparency and fairness in the agri-food supply chain
Requirement must specify purposes for which information may be processed
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Minister must specify valid purposes for information requests Crown / Minister / Government department
Requirements under section 23(1): duty to publish draft requirement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must consult on new agri-food data requirements Crown / Minister / Government department
Provision of required information and limitations on its processing
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must protect commercial interests when disclosing data Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Agri-food supply chains: requirement to provide information
Meaning of “agri-food supply chain”
Enforcement of information requirements
Fair dealing obligations of business purchasers of agricultural products
Producer and interbranch organisations etc: application for recognition
Recognised organisations: competition exemptions and further provision
Regulations under sections 30 and 31
Part 4 — Matters relating to farming and the countryside
Red meat levy: payments between levy bodies in Great Britain
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Red meat levy bodies must comply with cross-border payment schemes Statutory regulator
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 5 — Agricultural products
Marketing standards
Fine up to £2,500- Fail to comply with agricultural marketing standards Any Person
Organic products
Unlimited fine- Breach of organic production, labelling, or import standards Any Person
Carcass classification
Fine up to £2,500- Breach carcass classification and reporting rules Any Person
Reports relating to free trade agreements
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must report on agricultural protections in trade deals Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 6 — WTO Agreement on Agriculture
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 7 — Wales and Northern Ireland
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 8 — General and final provisions
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Data protection
Regulations
Interpretation
Consequential amendments
Power to make consequential etc provision
Power to make transitional etc provision
Financial provision
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Schedules
Browse 101 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Agricultural tenancies
Agricultural products relevant to marketing standards provisions
Provision relating to Northern Ireland
The CMO Regulation: consequential amendments
Agricultural sectors relevant to producer organisation provisions
Dairy Beef Sheep Goats Pig Poultry Eggs Cereals Fruit and...
Recognised organisations: competition exclusions
Schedule 3 to the Competition Act 1998 (general exclusions) is...
(1) Paragraph 9 (agricultural products) is amended as follows.
After paragraph 9, insert— (1) The Chapter 1 prohibition does not apply to an...
The Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 is amended as follows.
In section 35 (application of sections 36 to 48), in...
(1) Section 36 (right of any eligible person to apply...
In section 41 (application by not fully eligible person), in...
(1) Section 50 (right to apply for new tenancy on...
Omit section 58 (effect of direction under section 53 on...
(1) Section 59 (interpretation of Part 4) is amended as...
Omit Schedule 6 (eligibility to apply for new tenancy).
In section 39 (applications for tenancy of holding), for subsection...
(1) Section 53 (application for tenancy of holding by nominated...
In section 51 (cases excluded from operation of section 50(1))...
(1) Section 12 (arbitration or third party determination of rent)...
In section 53 (application for tenancy of holding by nominated...
(1) Section 94 (orders and regulations) is amended as follows....
The Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 is amended as follows.
(1) Section 12 (appointment of arbitrator) is amended as follows....
(1) Section 19 (references to arbitration of certain disputes) is...
(1) Section 22 (settlement of claims for disputes) is amended...
(1) Section 28 (resolution of disputes) is amended as follows....
(1) Section 30 (general provisions applying to arbitrations) is amended...
In section 38 (interpretation), in subsection (1), for the definition...
In section 39 (index)— (a) after the entry relating to...
(1) Schedule 2 (arbitration or third party determination of rent:...
In section 12 (arbitration or third party determination of rent),...
(1) Section 22 (rights to require certain records to be...
(1) Section 84 (arbitrations) is amended as follows.
Before section 20 insert— Disputes relating to requests for landlord's...
(1) In Schedule 2 (arbitration or third party determination of...
In Part 1 of Schedule 3 (cases where consent of...
Wine
Aromatised wine
Interpretation
Milk and milk products
Spreadable fats
Beef and veal
Poultry and poultrymeat
Eggs and egg products
Fruit and vegetables, other than olives
Olive oil and table olives
Hops
Provision relating to Wales
(1) This paragraph defines or explains expressions used in this...
(1) DAERA may require a person in, or closely connected...
(1) This paragraph has effect for the purposes of this...
(1) This paragraph applies to a requirement imposed under paragraph...
(1) Before a particular requirement is imposed under paragraph 10(1),...
(1) This paragraph applies to a requirement imposed under paragraph...
(1) DAERA may by regulations make provision for enforcement of...
(1) DAERA may by regulations, in relation to agricultural products...
(1) The agricultural products mentioned in paragraph 16(1) are products...
(1) DAERA may by regulations make provision about the classification,...
(1) This paragraph applies to a duty or power to...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify legislation governing the basic...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify legislation governing the basic...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify legislation governing the coupled...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify any of the following...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify any of the following...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify any of the following...
(1) Where DAERA considers that— (a) there is a severe...
(1) DAERA may by regulations modify assimilated direct legislation relating...
In consequence of the provision made by sections 20 and...
In Article 80 (oenological practices and methods of analysis), at...
In Article 86 (reservation, amendment and cancellation of optional reserved...
In Article 91 (implementing powers in accordance with the examination...
In Article 119 (labelling and presentation in the wine sector:...
In Article 122 (labelling and presentation in the wine sector:...
In Article 123 (implementing powers in accordance with the examination...
Regulations made by the European Commission under—
Regulations made by the European Commission under Section 1 or...
In consequence of the provision made in Part 5, the...
In consequence of the provision made in Part 4 of...
In Article 19 (public intervention and aid for private storage:...
In Article 20 (public intervention and aid for private storage:...
In Article 21 (public intervention and aid for private storage:...
In Article 73 (marketing standards: scope), at the end (and...
In Article 75 (marketing standards: establishment and content), at the...
In Article 78 (definitions, designations and sales descriptions for certain...
In Article 19 (public intervention and aid for private storage:...
In Article 80 (oenological practices and methods of analysis), at...
In Article 86 (reservation, amendment and cancellation of optional reserved...
In Article 91 (implementing powers in accordance with the examination...
In Article 119 (labelling and presentation in the wine sector:...
In Article 122 (labelling and presentation in the wine sector:...
In Article 123 (implementing powers in accordance with the examination...
Regulations made by the European Commission under—
Regulations made by the European Commission under Section 1 or...
In Article 20 (public intervention and aid for private storage:...
In Article 21 (public intervention and aid for private storage:...
In Article 73 (marketing standards: scope), at the end insert—...
In Article 75 (marketing standards: establishment and content), at the...
In Article 78 (definitions, designations and sales descriptions for certain...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Hedgerow management rules: cutting and trimming (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Apply for a County Parish Holding (CPH) number (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Farming Connect Wales (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- SFI closure and transition (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Understand farm assurance schemes (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Meet poultry welfare requirements (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Meet pig welfare requirements (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Meet sheep welfare requirements (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Meet cattle welfare requirements (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- SFI 2026 announcement (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 31 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
DEFRA
PrimaryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …
Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, National Nature …
Rural Payments Agency
Executive agency of Defra. Administers agricultural subsidy schemes including the Basic Payment Scheme, Environmental Land Management schemes, and farming grants. Conducts inspections …
Connected legislation
3 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.