Grower self-certification forms are not justified

The NFU says that UK growers should not be pressured into providing any additional information as part of new grain and oilseed schemes.

The warning comes after UK merchants issued forms as part of a new German voluntary scheme called RedCert.

But the NFU says growers are already audited under the Red Tractor scheme and this extra paperwork is both unnecessary and could jeopardise the UK industry’s competitiveness in the future.

NFU combinable crops board chairman Ian Backhouse said: "We need to make growers aware that this situation is happening but that they needn’t be pressured into giving any additional information to UK merchants or any other EU trade body without reward or compensation for higher burden and risk. They risk multiple audits as well as the paperwork and frustrations that come with it. We are also uncertain of the status of any scheme outside of Red Tractor being compliant with EU legislation.

"There is no real justification for this new form as our growers are already audited under the Red Tractor scheme to ensure they meet the sustainable requirements needed to sell grain into the EU under the Renewable Energy Directive. We have gone to considerable efforts to make sure the Red Tractor schemes are compliant with new legislation under the Renewable Energy Directive.

"The NFU will be working with colleagues in Brussels to ensure our members are not put at any competitive disadvantage or sucked into any unnecessary audit quagmire."