Introduction of GAEC 2 as part of Conditionality from 2025

GAEC 2 is a mandatory condition of the payment of the Basic Income Support for farmers (BISS). Its objective is to protect wetlands and peatlands – high carbon soils. EU Regulations require all Member States to have the standard in place from the start of 2025.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has consulted with all the relevant stakeholders on a proposed standard, including farm bodies and environmental NGOs. The standard was subject to final approval by the European Commission (EC), and it was adopted the EC on the 30th of April 2025.

The standard provides for a baseline protection for carbon rich soils, while allowing agricultural activity to continue. For example, “normal” ploughing, reseeding and maintenance of existing drains is allowed. New drainage is also possible in line with the existing national planning provisions.

Climate change (mitigation and adaptation) is the main environmental issue this standard aims to address through ‘Protection of carbon-rich soils’. It is well-recognised that high carbon soils are important stores or “sinks” for carbon. At approximately, 20% of the country, these sinks are akin to Ireland’s rainforests and thus must be protected. Activities such as drainage and deep ploughing can impact the integrity of these stores, causing the release of carbon. In addition, wetlands and peatlands are very valuable ecosystems for habitat, biodiversity, water quality and the protection and quality of soil.

The on-farm GAEC 2 requirements are as follows:

1. Maintenance and repair of existing drains is allowed as long as drains are not deepened nor is there an extension of the drained area beyond what previously existing, otherwise this will be considered new drainage.
2. New drainage will be subject to the planning permission requirements, as is currently the case under national planning legislation.
3. Shallow ploughing up to 30cm depth may take place annually for arable crops, but for grassland rejuvenation of permanent grassland, ploughing must not take place more frequently than once in every 4 years. Deep ploughing greater than 30cm depth for grassland or arable crops is not allowed.

The standard is now in place after formal approval by the Commission at the end of April.

The Department is in the process of writing to farmers subject to the standard. Land parcels subject to GAEC 2 can also be viewed on DAFM’s online farmers portal - AgFood.ie (See Annex).

The standard is expected to have minimal effect on most farmers day to day operations. Our grass-based system already provides considerable protection for such soils, and they are also protected by existing national planning provisions, for example on drainage. Maintenance of existing drainage may continue on these lands, while new drainage may take place subject to national planning provisions as currently is the case. Maintenance of existing drains includes the replacement of old drains or drains that have ceased to function over time.

Since shallow ploughing (up to 30cm), and reseeding through ploughing (1 in 4 years) is allowed under GAEC 2, these provisions are expected to have minimal impact, as they are considered as “typical” practices on Irish farms. Other reseeding methods such as discing or direct drilling can take place more frequently if the beneficiary wants.

It is important to note these new conditions under GAEC 2 do not supersede any obligations that a farmer already has around the land parcels arising from land designation under SPA or SACs. If you already need consent from NPWS for activities on a GAEC 2 parcel, then that remains that case.

Parcels with areas of 50% or more peat soil are determined as applicable to GAEC 2. Peat soils are mapped in the Teagasc-EPA Soils and Subsoils Map. These maps were derived using the following definition:

“A peat soil is defined as organic soil materials which have sedentarily accumulated and have at least 30% (dry mass) organic matter over a depth of at least 45cm on undrained land and 30cm deep on drained land; the depth requirement does not apply if the peat layer is over bedrock.”

An appeals system will be available for any farmers who believe their parcels have been misclassified as GAEC 2 and only where the farmer needs to carry out essential new drainage works or derogate from the other requirements. In certain circumstances, it will also be possible for farmers to split a parcel into the “peat soil” and “non-peat soil” components. Details of the appeals process will be set out in due course.”

Farmers who make applications for area-based payments under the CAP are subject to conditionality requirements. Approximately one third of farmers (42,000) will have some land that is subject to the standard, but those holdings with less than 10 ha (approx. 7,000) will not be subject to specific conditionality controls or penalties.

The Peat soil layer can be accessed as a viewable layer by farmers/advisors through the LPIS mapping system. The layer can be found through the following flow of access layers:

• Layers
• Reference Layers
• EPA
• EPA Soils
• Teagasc-EPA Indicative Soils OM Map >=30% OM=>Reference Layers

This “Teagasc-EPA Indicative Soil OM Map >=30% layer” can be toggled on and viewed by selecting the relevant buttons and clicking on the “Update” tab

In the “land details” section of the BISS application system the specific parcels subject to GAEC 2 can be checked in the “Parcel No./Plot Ref.” column. In this column, any parcels which are determined to be GAEC 2 parcels will have the “%” symbol displayed after the relevant parcel number (circled in red outline below).