Rules should be established concerning the compliance with the maximum amounts allowed, the exception for payments per livestock unit and the conversion rates of different categories of animals to livestock units.

However, a number of limitations of the patent proprietor's rights should enable third parties to use the invention, for instance for private and for non-commercial purposes, for experimental purposes, for acts allowed specifically under Union law (in the area of veterinary medicinal products, medicinal products for human use, plant variety rights, the legal protection of computer programs by copyright and the legal protection of biotechnological inventions) under international law and for the use by a farmer of protected livestock for farming purposes.

While we are on the verge of an over 30-month age regulation with the U.S., we may find the capacity in Canada is underutilized by the older cattle going into the U.S. for processing, leaving this new capacity non-viable.

Today the European Commission tabled several draft Commission decisions to authorise farmers affected by severe drought to use set aside land for animal feed purposes.

Drought: Commission proposes to allow farmers to feed livestock on set-aside areas

2. By way of derogation from Articles 36(1) and 44(1), a farmer who has such payment entitlements for which he did not have hectares in the reference period, shall be authorised by the Member State to derogate from the obligation to provide a number of eligible hectares equivalent to the number of entitlements on the condition he maintains at least 50 % of the agricultural activity exercised in the reference period expressed in livestock units (LU).