Dairy UK welcomes prospect of cutting unnecessary red tape

Dairy UK has welcomed the prospect of a reduction in the administrative burden on dairy farmers.

Commenting on the launch of the 200 recommendations of the Farming Regulation Task Force, Dairy UK Director General Jim Begg said "Any initiative that reduces time and cost burdens on British dairy farmers by cutting unnecessary red tape and leaving farmers to get on with producing the best milk in the world has got to be welcome."

"It is clear that Richard MacDonald and his Task Force have produced a comprehensive piece of work and for this they are to be congratulated. However, this only represents a stage in the progress towards the goal of establishing working partnerships with industry with the focus on achieving outcomes, instead of process. In particular the idea of ’earned recognition’ would be key to this partnership approach. It is already being developed in the dairy sector through the FSA’s acknowledgement of the relevance of farm assured status in determining the frequency of dairy hygiene inspections."

"Dairy UK would also welcome early improvements in the regulatory framework for livestock movements and the NVZ regulation as these would be of immediate benefit to farmers."

"We will be scrutinising the Report in detail and look forward to working positively with Defra and other industry stakeholders on the all important implementation of these recommendations"