Trust our farmers more, say Tories

Mar 17 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE Conservative Party has called for an overhaul of the way farming is regulated to reduce red tape.

The Tories propose a fundamental reform of agricultural rules and inspections, including a review of all regulation in an effort to make life simpler and cheaper for the industry.

The party also wants an end to the “gold-plating” of EU directives, in which policy is implemented to a level beyond what is required by Brussels and which they say makes the UK uncompetitive.

The National Farmers Union last night supported the Tory proposals.

Earlier this month, the NFU launched an online survey to glean a true picture of the impact of red tape on the industry.

A North East NFU spokeswoman said: “We are constantly fighting the battle against unnecessary regulation. No one can deny that some regulation is necessary, but too much of it slows down farming businesses, frustrating members when it seems repetitive or pointless.

“Although the Government is seeking to reduce the ‘administrative burden’ of regulation by 25% by 2010 across all Government departments, the majority of farmers we speak to say things are getting worse rather than better.

“We see the current regulatory burden as being too bureaucratic, confused and inconsistently applied. Instead we are campaigning for a more effective, efficient and co-ordinated approach right across the industry.”

The Tories said they wanted to see farm inspections streamlined to prevent duplication and more reliance on standards implemented in farm assurance schemes, as well as regulations checked by outcome, not the process farmers use to meet them.

Examples of bureaucracy the party wants to reform include the Nitrates Directive, which prevents farmers manuring fields at certain times of the year in an effort to cut water pollution. The Tories say the extra storage needed on farms will cost £300m, with little benefit for the environment.

The party says Defra has imposed more than 1,000 new regulations since 2000. Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said: “Over the last five years, the number of new regulations introduced has increased in net terms by more than 20% annually – a trend that is incompatible with our desire for a competitive and profitable farming industry.

“We recognise that there is a role and requirement for regulation, but equally that Defra has allowed red tape to proliferate, very often at maximum expense for minimum benefit.”

Shadow agriculture minister Jim Paice said: “It is about time the Government trusted farmers to do the right thing and got out of the current mindset that without micro management, irresponsible methods would prevail.”