Red tape and inspections to be trimmed in bid to help farmers

The Government will unveil its interim response to the findings of a 12-month investigation into how red tape can be cut.

Agriculture Minister Jim Paice will spell out how regulatory burdens – estimated to cost the farming industry £10bn annually – can be diluted or scrapped altogether.

He will state that farmers with the best track records on environmental protection and animal welfare standards could soon earn the right to operate more freely.

Farming inspections will become more risk-based and targeted at farms which are at greater likelihood of breaching regulations. Inspections will also be co-ordinated more to reduce the number of duplicate visits by different enforcement bodies.

Mr Paice is also likely to promise a simplification of the complex environmental requirements farmers have to meet, bring together local councils to combat fly-tipping on private land and to reduce paperwork and move more records online.

The announcement, set to be made at today’s Northern Farming Conference in County Durham, builds on recommendations made by the Farming Regulation Task Force, set up by the coalition Government to look at slashing farming bureaucracy.

Mr Paice said in a statement ahead of the conference: “Where we can, we’re looking to free up those playing by the rules so they can get on with doing what they do best – running their farms. The MacDonald report was big, bold and ambitious, and if industry is ready to play its part, we can make it a reality.

“If we want a successful and competitive farming industry then the rules and regulations need to be drawn up with farmers in mind. Most farmers want to do the right thing and push standards even higher – what we need to do is help them do that in as simple and effective way as possible.

“It also means getting farmers and NGOs to agree on what the best way forward is, and I want to thank the NFU and RSPB for working so constructively with us to inform our interim response.”

Richard MacDonald who led the task force, is also likely to be called upon to oversee a delivery group to ensure the proposals are implemented. He said: “Our recommendations require change in both government and the farming industry and I am encouraged that both are actively engaging to develop solutions now for the future.

“I am looking forward to helping drive implementation and making all this real.”

The Government’s full and final response to the Task Force report will be published in early 2012.

The findings have been cautiously welcomed by farming organisations who all called for the proposals to be implemented sooner rather than later.

Country Land and Business Association president and Yorkshire landowner William Worsley said only a significant culture change within Defra could deliver a big reduction in pointless bureaucracy.

Mr Worsley said: “We welcome the progress made so far by Defra to cut red tape in line with the Task Force’s recommendations, but there is still much more to do.”

He also questioned whether moving farm records online would be practical with one in five farmers still living in areas with poor internet access.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) also said it was encouraged by the findings but called for action sooner rather than later if the initiative is to keep its credibility.

Its deputy president Meurig Raymond said: “Delivery is the key.

“What we need to see now is some flesh on the bones. We need a clear timetable for how the aspirations within this report will be turned into reality with specific actions from Defra.

“Most of all we need to see a step change in over-zealous regulation replaced by a system which encourages and rewards farmers for upholding the high standards expected.”

RSPB head of agriculture policy Gareth Morgan welcomed the Government’s ongoing commitment to environmental regulation.