AGRICULTURAL LAND REGULATIONS

AGRICULTURAL LAND

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 573.01

AGRICULTURAL LAND REGULATIONS

30th May, 2017

LEGAL NOTICE 159 of 2017.

The title of these regulations is the Agricultural Land

Regulations.

Agricultural land means any land belonging to the

Government which is mainly let for the growing of crops, flowers,

fruit-trees or vines and for cognate agricultural purposes, including

the erection of glasshouses, cloches or cold frames, but does not

include grazing grounds.

(1)

Every person holding a valid title on agricultural

land belonging to the Government can transfer and assign his rights

on such land or part thereof, subject to those conditions imposed by

the Lands Authority, including the agricultural rent, to third parties as

long as such third parties are bona fide full-time or part-time farmers

registered with the Director of Agriculture or is a member of an

agricultural co-operative, producers organisation or a recognised

association of farmers. Each and every transfer is subject to the

approval of the Board of Governors of the Lands Authority and shall

be done in accordance to the conditions imposed by the said Board,

which conditions must be published.

(2) Prior to the approval of the Board of Governors of the

Lands Authority of any agricultural land or part thereof, there must

be verified that there is no breach of any law or contractual

disposition with regards to the said mentioned land.

Every person who has completed successfully an

academic course relating to agriculture within the previous five years

prior to the introduction of these regulations may be given by the

Lands Authority under title of lease, agricultural land belonging to

the Government with the aim of establishing an agricultural activity

as described above. Any grant of land. Any grant of agricultural land

subject to the approval of the Board of Governors of the Lands

Authority and shall be done in accordance to the conditions imposed

by the said Board, which conditions must be published. Any person

who qualifies under this regulation is to benefit from a preferential

rate with regards to the rent payable for a maximum period of five

years.

(1)

When the lessee of the agricultural land dies, the

lease shall pass onto the person who is so entitled to it in accordance

with the provisions of the Agricultural Leases (Reletting) Act.

AGRICULTURAL LAND

(2) If after the death of the lessee, no other person is

recognised by the Lands Authority as the lessee of the agricultural

land and there is no other person who qualifies to become the lessee

in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural

Leases (Reletting) Act, the land is to return to the Government.

The Lands Authority shall ensure that all the expenses

involved for the transfer of agricultural land as above-mentioned are

to be collected from the person to whom the agricultural land is to be

given to.