Robert Sturdy relieved that unwanted Soils Directive is scrapped

Euro MEP Robert Sturdy has welcomed the recent announcement that the Council of Ministers has scrapped the Soil Directive which was adopted by the European Parliament in November last year.

Mr Sturdy said:

"Thank goodness this utterly unnecessary policy has been scrapped and that common sense has prevailed. I am still angry that the proposal was adopted by the European Parliament in the first place. Hopefully, this development will send a sign to those members of parliament who insist on introducing petty, impractical policies which have no use. Regulations and laws protecting soil are already in place in Britain and across the EU, as is evident within the terms of the Single Farm Payment. There was simply no need for further legislation, which is why the Conservative delegation voted against the proposal when it came to parliament in November.

"The Soils Directive would have brought about no environmental benefits and would have only wrapped UK farming further in red tape. It means that farmers can breathe a little easier now and, along with the rest of the nation, can at least take some consolation that not everyone in Brussels is insistent on making policy just for the fun of it."