Obligations of Member States relating to good agricultural and environmental condition

1.   Member States shall ensure that all agricultural areas, including land which is no longer used for production purposes, are maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition. Member States shall set, at national or regional level, minimum standards for farmers and other beneficiaries for each GAEC standard listed in Annex III in line with the main objective of those standards as referred to in that Annex. In setting their standards, Member States shall take into account, where relevant, the specific characteristics of the areas concerned including soil and climatic condition, existing farming systems, farming practices, farm size and farm structures, land use, and the specificities of outermost regions.
2.   In respect of the main objectives laid down in Annex III, Member States may set standards additional to those laid down in that Annex concerning those main objectives. Such additional standards shall be non-discriminatory and proportionate and shall correspond to the needs identified.
Member States shall not set minimum standards for main objectives other than the main objectives laid down in Annex III.
3.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 152 supplementing this Regulation with rules to ensure a level playing field as regards the ratio for GAEC standard 1.