Farm minister George Eustice says in sheep meeting: 'Plethora of opportunities if UK votes for Brexit'

George Eustice MP
George Eustice MP

The National Sheep Association (NSA) have this week met with Food and Farming Minister George Eustice, with what was described as a "strong and progressive" meeting.

A representative of NSA office holders took the opportunity to meet Mr Eustice in London to discuss a number of issues and concerns affecting sheep farmers across the UK.

With talks focussed around the pending EU referendum, BPS payment delays and TSEs, the association says it was 'encouraging' to hear a number of 'constructive and clear' responses throughout.

The NSA said it was 'interesting' to hear about the structures Mr Eustice suggested would be put in place in the event of a UK exit from the EU.

'Plethora of opportunities for Brexit'

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: "As an open and firm supporter of the UK leaving the EU, Mr Eustice made clear a plethora of opportunities he felt it had to offer, while suggesting it would essentially be a blank canvass for future financial support and trade activity.

"He outlined a number of practical options for alternative support payment structures, and was particularly keen to abolish the ‘chaos of an annual application’ as he described current protocol.

"Mr Eustice was also optimistic that a mutual reliance on imports and exports between the UK and other European countries would allow trade to continue."

NSA took the opportunity to seek clarity on the impending decision surrounding TSE’s and carcase splitting, making the case that the Ministers own suggestion for an end of May cut of date, prior to which there would be no toothing and no splitting but with the ability to tooth after this date, was what the industry wanted.

'No one is prepared to stand up to Scrapie'

Mr Stocker continues: "Through this process we have been pushed back from an end of June to an end of May date, on the basis that we could revert to toothing after the end of May cut-off.

"However, if this is the only offer on the table, after which all old season lambs would need to be spilt, we strongly feel we’d be better off remaining with the current rules.

"What is unforgiveable is a unanimous agreement among Ministers, Government and even the Food Standards Agency that there is no risk to human health from Scrapie, yet no one is prepared to stand up and do anything about it, not to mention the wasted time and effort we’ve gone to so far during this process.

"It was encouraging to hear Mr Eustice echo NSA’s frustrations on the increasing amount of red tape and regulation farmers are up against, and his promise appears to be that if we exit the EU we can drastically reduce this while still demonstrating equivalence with EU regulations for trade”.

Frustrations over Basic Payment Scheme delays and confusion over 2016 Single Farm Payment applications were also brought to the table, and Mr Eustice sympathised with the lack of confidence many producers are currently feeling towards the RPA.

He also confirmed there is a degree of leeway in place for farmers who submit an incorrect claim due to an absence of confirmation of eligibility for a post 16th May payment, encouraging farmers to submit their applications on time, based on the information they have available.