NFU welcomes EU council’s conclusions on cross compliance

The NFU today gave a cautious welcome to the conclusions adopted by EU Farm ministers at Monday's meeting of the Agriculture Council. The conclusions supported the EU Commission's own report to the Council earlier this year. Among other things, ministers approved:

tolerances for minor non-compliances

closing of files without further inspections if farmers take immediate action to rectify minor breaches

scope for participation in assurance schemes being taken into account when authorities select farms for inspection

abolition of the 10-month rule

Minsters also encouraged the Commission to look for further simplification of the system and again stressed that the overall administrative burden for farmers should, where possible, be reduced.

Commenting on the outcome NFU President Peter Kendall said: "We have long been pressing for a more proportionate approach to cross compliance. The fact that farm ministers across the EU have approved the Commission's proposals shows that our concerns were well-founded. I'm particularly encouraged that they have acknowledged there is still scope for further improvements.

"We've finally had the political steer. Now it's time for action from the powers that be to make sure the changes are implemented on the ground."