NFU outlines concerns about changes to SOAs

NFU Cymru is using Pembrokeshire County Show to highlight its concerns with the recent Welsh Government decision that from 1 November 2013 no new Sole Occupancy Authority (SOA) applications, or requests for the addition of new holdings to existing SOAs, will be accepted.

Commenting on this proposed change, Pembrokeshire dairy farmer and NFU Cymru Deputy President Stephen James said, “I’m concerned about the implications of this change for farmers who manage movements of livestock between blocks of land under their management and control. These proposed changes to SOAs could cause problems for any livestock farmer in Wales who’s looking to take on any new temporary grazing after the start of November.

“The Working Smarter report recommended the implementation of a sensible and simplified system of livestock movement controls, to include simplification of the complex County Parish Holding (CPH) livestock holdings regime, which would be easily understood by both farmers and regulators. It appears to us that rather than progressing the wider agenda of creating a rationalised new system of CPH livestock holdings, the Welsh Government are cherry picking and choosing parts of the Working Smarter report.

“NFU Cymru has always said that real simplification and better regulation can only be achieved through the implementation of the full package of measures as outlined in the report. We fear that the proposed changes will add complexity and cost and prove to be far more bureaucratic for many livestock farmers. This runs contrary to one of the main aims of the Working Smarter report of simplification and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.”

Mr James added, “Whilst we appreciate that there’s a degree of pressure coming onto the Welsh Government from the European Commission on this issue, which is related to the approval of Wales’ TB Eradication Plan, we’re disappointed by the lack of proper consultation with the industry on this issue. NFU Cymru is also concerned that the Welsh Government has not fully understood the practical impacts and costs that this will have on day-to-day farming operations.

“NFU Cymru has already raised these concerns with Alun Davies AM, the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, and we will raise the issue again when we meet with him this week at the show. In the meantime, my advice to farmers who intend to set up new SOAs or want to add land to their existing SOAs is to get these applications into the Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) before November.”