Sheep working party elects new vice chairman

NFU Cymru President, Ed Bailey, has been elected Vice Chairman of the European farmers’ organisation COPA-COGEGA’s sheep working party. This is in addition to his current role as Vice Chairman of the European Commission’s sheep and goat advisory committee.

Speaking after his election, Mr Bailey said, "It is a great honour for me as a Welsh hill farmer to be elected to this position and I will do my utmost to represent the interests of Welsh, UK and European farmers in discussions with the commission with regards to all matters relating to the sheep sector.

"There are many major issues to deal with in the coming months and years and I will do my utmost to ensure that the views and opinions of sheep producers are heard when decisions in Brussels are made. The future of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) post 2013 will be one of our top priorities. We must maintain a strong CAP that has food production as its main priority.

"We need to consider what actions the commission could take to help reverse the trend of declining sheep populations in Wales and across Europe, this may be through measures to help support marketing and promotion initiatives and in ensuring a properly functioning fair, transparent and sustainable food chain.

"Finally regulation adds cost and bureaucracy to all our business and EID and individual movement recording is one of the most threatening regulations to hit us in recent times. We must continue to lobby for flexibilities as to how the regulation is implemented and for an early EU wide review of the legislation."

As Vice Chairman Mr Bailey will represent the interests of sheep and goat producers from across European Union Member States.

The working party holds issue-led meetings up to four times a year.