UK 'gold plates' EU agriculture regulations

Thursday, 26, Nov 2009 12:00

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson, attended the AGM of the Brecon and Radnorshire Branch of the National Farmers Union in Builth Wells recently. Following discussions and representations from members he has written to DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly regarding penalties imposed on Single Farm Payments.

Following the meeting, Roger Williams said:

“Minimum penalties are now amounting to 3% of the payment, which in many cases can be over £1000.

“One of the main causes for penalties is delay in notifying the British Cattle Movement Service about movements of cattle on and off farms.

“The EU regulation says that movements must be notified within three to seven days but within the UK this is interpreted as three days.

“Farmers selling cattle on a Friday will need to have the notification to BCMS office in Workington by Sunday.

“For those using the postal system, this is impossible.

“I will be calling on both DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly to adopt the seven day target rather than the three day target in order fall in line with most other European countries”