The reference for a preliminary ruling was made by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Queen’s Bench Division, regarding the legislation adopted in respect of the territory of England defining the minimum requirements for good agricultural and environmental condition referred to in Article 5 of and Annex IV to Regulation No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers. The ECJ ruled that a Member State may include requirements relating to the maintenance of visible public rights of way in its standards for good agricultural and environmental condition under Article 5 of and Annex IV to Council Regulation No 1782/2003, inasmuch as those requirements contribute to the retention of those rights of way as landscape features or, as the case may be, to the avoidance of the deterioration of habitats.