Minister praises progress on Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme
Minister praises progress on Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme, but warns that more support is needed to avoid costly regulation
Given the progress made on implementing the Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS) Lord Rooker, is proposing to reward participants with fewer government inspections; however, he warns that more costly regulation will result unless FIAS uptake increases.
Responding to the report on the implementation of FIAS submitted by the Agricultural Industries Confederation, Defra minister for sustainable food and farming Lord Rooker acknowledged that a lot of work and determination had gone into getting the scheme off the ground. He went on to offer an early reward for those businesses which had backed the scheme.
"I propose that Government inspection bodies will carry out less inspections of certified FIAS participants as they will be seen as a lower risk in terms of security and traceability. This will reduce some of the inspection burden on these FIAS companies," he said
However, alongside encouragement to those who have become certified, came a warning that more companies need to become certified if the fertiliser industry is to avoid more costly regulation.
"The total number of FIAS certified companies, whilst encouraging needs to be increased," said Lord Rooker. "This lack of industry support is unfortunate as the lack of participation undermines the overall effort made so far by the companies that are fully certified.
"If we cannot make FIAS a fully operational scheme in all its respects, we will need to seriously consider proceeding down the regulatory route which I can assure the industry is likely to be more expensive and complicated than FIAS."
AIC has both welcomed the minister's response – and heeded his cautionary words.
"We are delighted with the benefits that reduced inspection levels will give to those who are certified," said John Kelley, Managing Director of AIC Services. "However, we also note Lord Rooker's warnings. FIAS was developed by the industry to achieve a self-regulatory response to Government demands for fertiliser security. We know that the scheme is being looked at as a model for achieving similar aims elsewhere in Europe. Thus we are determined to make it work.
"In the coming months we will consider implementing a "cut off" date when the supply chain considers only trading with certified FIAS participants as an added incentive to participation."
