CHAPTER I: General provisions

The members of the section have, under the conditions resulting either from decisions of the municipal authorities or from local custom, the enjoyment of those of the property of the section whose fruits are received in kind, to the exclusion of any income in cash.

Agricultural or pastoral land owned by the section is allocated by rural lease or by multi-annual farming or grazing agreement concluded under the conditions provided for in article L. 481-1 of the Code rural et de la pêche maritime (Rural and Maritime Fishing Code) or by agreement to make land available to a société d'aménagement foncier et d'établissement rural (Land Development and Rural Establishment Company):

1° For the benefit of farmers who have their real and fixed domicile, a farm building and the headquarters of their farm on the territory of the section and farm agricultural property on it; and, if the competent authority so decides, for the benefit of farmers who have a farm building housing, during the winter period, their animals on the territory of the section in accordance with the allocation regulations and farm agricultural property on the said territory ;

2° Failing that, for the benefit of farmers using agricultural property on the territory of the section and having a real and fixed domicile on the territory of the commune;

3° In the alternative, for the benefit of farmers using agricultural property on the territory of the section;

4° Where possible, for the benefit of the setting up of new farms.

If the farm is developed in the form of an agricultural non-trading company, the section property is allocated either to each of the farming partners, provided they meet the conditions defined by the competent authority, or to the company itself.

For all the above categories, the operators must meet the conditions set out in the articles L. 331-2 to L. 331-5 du code rural et de la pêche maritime and those set out in the allocation regulations defined by the municipal council.

No longer meeting the conditions set by the competent authority at the time of allocation will result in the termination of the rural lease or the multi-year farming or grazing agreement, notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, with a minimum notice period of six months.

All of these provisions, which concern agricultural and pastoral uses of section property, do not prevent non-farming members of the section from maintaining traditional rights and uses such as affouage, picking or hunting.

Cash income may only be used in the interests of the section. It is allocated first and foremost to the development and maintenance of the section's assets and to equipment recognised as necessary for this purpose by the syndicate commission.