Agriculture Appeals Process

When a final decision issues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (i.e. after internal Department review), you will be notified of your option to appeal.

• The scheme applicant (appellant), dissatisfied with the decision, must complete a ‘Notice of Appeal' form and submit it to the Agriculture Appeals Office. 
• The Notice of Appeal Form must be lodged within 3 months of notification of the decision under appeal. An appeal received after 3 months will only be accepted if the Director considers that there are exceptional circumstances
• The Appeals Office requests from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the relevant file and a statement regarding the appellant's grounds of appeal. Your Grounds of Appeal will be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for their comments and observation.
• On receipt of the file and statement, the Director assigns the case to an Appeals Officer.
• Appellants are entitled to an oral hearing as part of their appeal.
• The Agriculture Appeals Office contacts the appellant to arrange an oral hearing if required, or if deemed necessary by the Appeals Officer.
• It is the policy of the office to discuss the appeal with the appellant. If no oral hearing takes place, the Appeals Officer will contact the appellant to discuss the appeal.
• The Appeals Officer considers all the evidence in full (including any evidence presented at an oral hearing if there was one). The Appeals Officer makes a determination on the appeal and notifies the appellant of the decision in writing, setting out the reasons for that decision. The Department will also be notified of the decision.
  
  

  The Agriculture Appeals Process