NFU Cymru welcomes red tape review

NFU Cymru President Dai Davies has welcomed today's announcement by the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, that the Welsh Assembly Government is to conduct a review of the checks that are made on farms, as well as the number of forms that farmers are expected to fill out.

The timely announcement, which has come just a day before the National Assembly are due to discuss the very issue of red tape and its impact on farming at Plenary, has been welcomed by Mr Davies, he said, "This is a very welcome announcement from the Minister, a reduction in red tape and bureaucracy is something that NFU Cymru has been calling for, for years. I am delighted that our calls finally appear to have been heeded. There is much that can be done to reduce the burden placed on farmers, including looking at how inspecting bodies might co-ordinate their work and better share information so as to avoid duplication of work for farmer and inspector alike, as well as taking a more pragmatic approach to genuine error.

Mr Davies added, "I am also very pleased that the National Assembly has set aside a hour to debate this issue tomorrow afternoon, NFU Cymru has been in touch with AMs ahead of tomorrow's Plenary debate and I look forward to an interesting discussion."

Mr Davies cautioned however, "Of course we have all heard of well meaning initiatives to cut red tape from governments in the past which haven't always delivered.

"I very much hope that what the Minister has announced today will at last be the start of a long overdue process that will finally bring about a meaningful reduction in the bureaucratic burden faced by farmers."

Mr Davies concluded, "Easing some of the burden of bureaucracy and red-tape that is faced by our members will not only ease the stresses and strains that they face, but it will allow them to do what they do best which is producing food of the highest quality as well as looking after Wales' unique landscape."