Animal Disease Levy – cost sharing or cost cutting?

NFU meeting – The Hired Lad, Penrith on Monday 16 October

Government has made it crystal clear that it intends to cut £90 million from the Defra budget – a short fall the NFU worries will be made up in the form of a disease levy.

At present, the Government is undertaking a comprehensive spending review across all of its departments and looking for savings that can be easily made.

NFU North West's regional livestock chairman, Alistair Mackintosh, said: "With the cost of controlling the recent FMD outbreak fresh in the mind, Defra has come under particular scrutiny.

"The outcome of this is that the Government would like to adopt a partnership approach in controlling animal diseases. We have already seen the way in which this may impact on the industry with the introduction of pre-movement testing and standardised animal compensation values and the next step under discussion is the introduction of an animal disease levy."

North West farmers have the opportunity to find out exactly what action is needed to avoid all costs being put onto the industry when the NFU's chief livestock adviser, Peter King, visits Cumbria.

Mr King will discuss the issue in detail on Monday 16 October at The Hired Lad in Penrith. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome to attend.

Mr Mackintosh added: "Not all the decisions relating to cost sharing have been made and the industry needs to make sure that Defra does not duck it's responsibility in tackling these diseases.

"This meeting gives you the opportunity to influence the approach the Government will take in tacking animal diseases now and in the future."