News

DEFRA is to appeal the decision of the High Court in the pesticides case brought by campaigner Georgina Downs. (See the CAAV website note of 18th November 2008.)

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution has published a report on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, critising the Government's decision to ignore the advice of two earlier Parliamentary committees to include a right of appeal on coastal access issues. The report can be viewed on the Parliament website.

The EU has agreed a package of measures to tackle climate change, including a commitment to ensure that 20% of final energy consumption is met from renewable sources. For the full press release, go to the Europa website.

The Scottish Government has ruled out any extension of the Right to Buy for agricultural holdings in an attempt to encourage more letting of agricultural land. For the full press release, go to the Scottish Government website.

The RPA has been issued with a Decision Notice by the Information Commissioner's Office following a complaint under the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations. The Notice requires the RPA to release CAP information relating to payments made between October 1999 and October 2005. Further information is available on the RPA website.

DEFRA has today announced that the voluntary approach to vaccination against Bluetongue serotype 8 is to continue. There had been discussions about the possibility of a compulsory vaccination strategy, but this has been rejected in preference to continuing with the voluntary approach in 2009. Further information and the 2009 vaccination plan are available on DEFRA's website.

The European Court of Auditors has published a Special Report looking at whether cross compliance is an effective policy. The report concludes that cross-compliance is a vital component of the Common Agricultural Policy but is not effective in its current form. Further information is available on the Europa website.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has announced it is carrying out a new inquiry to look into the UK's capability to secure food supplies up to 2050. The inquiry will be conducted in two parts with the first looking at the challenges the UK faces with the demands for increases in food production and the second addressing what needs to be done by the Government, farmers, growers/producers and the food industry in order to meet the challenges. Further information about the...

The European Commission has authorised the use of GM soyabean MON89788, known as “Roundup Ready 2”, for import, processing, food and feed uses. The soyabean is a Monsanto product and will be licensed for 10 years initially, after it received a favourable assessment from the European Food Safety Authority. The full press release can be found on the Europa website.

The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) will be gathering evidence for its inquiry into the future of England’s uplands during February 2009, when it plans to hold “evidence gathering seminars” and six regional meetings. The dates and places of the meetings have not yet been published. The CRC is particularly keen to hear the views of those who do not normally contribute to such a debate. More detail about the Inquiry is available from the CRC website and we will keep members informed...

Following the opening of the payment window for 2008 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) payments on 1st December, the Welsh Assembly has confirmed that 82.5 per cent of farmers were processed for payments (exceeding 75 per cent achieved for 2007 SPS payment) with some £183 million paid into farmers' bank accounts. The intention of the Welsh Assembly is that 85 per cent of farmers should receive their payment by Christmas. Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly website....

Welsh Assembly Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, announced at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair yesterday that the policy in Wales regarding inconclusive reactors is to be brought in line with the EC Directive with effect from 1st March 2009. This will mean that inconclusive reactors will be removed following one re-test, rather than two which is currently the case. We understand from the Welsh Assembly that prior to this becoming mandatory next year, farmers may voluntarily request that the animal...

DEFRA has confirmed that Bluetongue Serotype 1 (BTV1) has been detected in five imported cattle on a premises near Blackpool, Lancashire. Further information is available on DEFRA's website.

The Pre-Budget Report was delivered yesterday afternoon by the Chancellor. Details are available on the HMRC website. Further information is also available on HM Treasury website. Further briefing will be available within Members' Documents later today.

The Welsh Assembly Government has confirmed that a further £6.8 million funding will be made available for the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). This will mean that all applications for the 2008 OFS can be met and that a further 100 applications will be supported for the 2009 OFS. Further information is available on the Welsh Assembly website....

The Welsh Assembly Government has submitted an amendment to EU rules which prevent on farm burial of stock so that on farm containment would be permitted prior to disposal. It however seems that Wales has not received any support for such a derogation despite strong negotiations with the European Commission. Please see the Welsh Assembly Government website for further information....

DEFRA has confirmed that Bluetongue Serotype 6 (BTV6), which is a new serotype not previously found in the EU, has been found on three farms in the Netherlands. BTV8 has been the serotype predominating to date. All livestock exports from the Netherlands were banned on 20th October whilst these cases were being investigated. Further information is available on DEFRA's website....

With effect from 16th October 2008, the RPA can now only make payments via BACS as a result of requirements under European legislation. This affects all payments made by the RPA including Single Payment Scheme and agri-environment scheme payments. If farmers have not registered their bank details with the RPA, they will need to do so as soon as possible. Further information is available on the RPA website....

The RPA has reminded sugar beet growers and contractors that application forms for compensation where they held contracts with British Sugar in 2006, 2007 and 2008 must be returned to the RPA by 31st October 2008. Further information is available on the RPA website.

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is progressing with the implementation of the TB eradication programme with the National Assembly voting yesterday for increased powers of entry to premises in order to test camelids and goats for TB, which were previously not in place. The press release is available on the WAG website. WAG has also published the final report which evaluates the South West Wales Biosecurity Intensive Treatment area which can be found by clicking here....

The Scottish Government has announced that a Home Report will be introduced from 1st December 2008 for the sale of homes. The Home Report is to include three documents which should provide prospective home purchasers with a survey of the property (including information about the property's condition and a valuation), an energy report and a property questionnaire. Further information is available on the Scottish Government's website....

Rural Affairs Minister, Ellin Jones, has provided an update on progress with the implementation of the TB eradication programme in Wales. A key initial element is the "TB Health Check Wales" which will see all herds across Wales having a one-off TB test over a fifteen month period starting from 1st October 2008, with testing due to be completed by 31st December 2009. There are also to be improvements in biosecurity and the time taken to remove reactors from farms. A press release is available...

DEFRA has today (17th September) announced the launch of a scoping project to look at short rotation forestry and what role it may have to play in being a viable renewable energy source. A number of sites and plots will be established to look at both native and naturalised broadleaved trees as well as other species which may have the potential of being used for biomass. Further information is available on DEFRA's website.

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has confirmed that Bluetongue (BTV8) has been detected in two cattle imported from France, now located on a premises near Ruthin, Denbighshire. A further animal is also under investigation. Further information is available on WAG's website.

DEFRA has announced today (10th September 2008) that Bluetongue has been detected on premises near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. This is the fourth occurence of Bluetongue being found in animals imported to the UK from the BTV8 Restricted Zone in Germany and involves 18 cattle. Further information is available on DEFRA's website.

As a result of the wet weather conditions experienced, DEFRA has today (10th September 2008) confirmed a temporary suspension of the cross compliance standard which prevents farmers from using mechanical equipment and vehicles on waterlogged land (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition - GAEC 3). Such activity will be permitted temporarily until 4th October 2008 and will be subject to review. Environment Secretary Hilary Benn stated, "I am very aware of the problems that farmers are...

DEFRA has submitted seven new sites (two land-based and five marine) as candidate Special Areas of Conservation to the European Commission in order to provide those areas with an increased level of habitat and species protection. The two land-based sites include Bolton Fell Moss, Cumbria and the River Faughan and its tributaries, Northern Ireland. Further information is available on DEFRA's website...

Defra has confirmed, following the announcement they made on 20th August, that with effect from 1st September 2008 Northumberland and Cumbria will be incorporated into the Bluetongue Protection Zone (PZ), which will complete the roll-out of the vaccination programme and see the whole of England included within the PZ. Further information is available on DEFRA's website

As a result of post-import testing, DEFRA has today (29th August) confirmed that further cases of Bluetongue (BTV8) have been discovered in eight cattle imported from Germany's BTV8 Restricted Zone. The cattle were found on premises near Tiverton, Devon. Further information is available on DEFRA's website

The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) is giving cattle keepers the option to elect to no longer receive paper application forms but to submit all information electronically via CTS online and farm software packages. Further information is available on the RPA's website.

DEFRA has today (27th August) announced that two rams located on premises near Lewes, East Sussex, and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, have tested positive for Bluetongue (BTV8). The rams had been imported from the same premises located in the BTV8 Restricted Zone in Central France and are the UK's first cases of Bluetongue virus positive animals discovered this summer. Further information is available on DEFRA's website....