1 Direct payments are made on condition that:
- a.
- the business is run as a farm;
- b.
- proof of ecological performance can be provided;
- c.
- agricultural production methods comply with the provisions of legislation on the protection of waters, the environment and animal welfare;
- d.
- the land farmed does not lie within a designated building zone that has been legally excluded under planning legislation after this provision comes into force;
- e.
- a minimum amount of labour on the farm in standard labour units is reached;
- f.
- a minimum amount of work is carried out by labourers employed by the farm;
- g.
- the farmer is not over a certain age;
- h.
- the farmer has a qualification in agriculture.
2 Proof of ecological performance includes:
- a.
- appropriate conditions for livestock;
- b.
- balanced use of fertilisers;
- c.
- an adequate proportion of land set aside for biodiversity;
- d.
- regulation use of objects included in inventories of national interest under the terms of the Federal Act of 1 July 1966107 on Nature and Cultural Heritage;
- e.
- regular crop rotation;
- f.
- appropriate soil protection;
- g.
- specific choice and application of plant protection products.
3 The Federal Council:
- a.
- shall set out the terms for proof of ecological performance;
- b.
- shall set out the terms for values and requirements in relation to paragraph 1 letters a and e–h;
- c.
- may limit the amount of direct payments per standard labour unit;
- d.
- may allow exceptions to letter c and paragraph 1 letter h;
- e.
- may allow exceptions to paragraph 1 letter a for direct payments for biodiversity and landscape quality;
- f.
- shall set the limits in relation to the area per farm above which payments are graduated or reduced.
4 The Federal Council may stipulate further requirements and obligations regarding direct payments.
5 It shall decide on the areas for which direct payments are made.