The report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force

The report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force

Striking a balance: reducing burdens; increasing

responsibility; earning recognition

A report on better regulation in farming and food businesses

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Independent of Government• Industry-led, but with non-industry

representation• Members have wide-ranging personal

expertise and experience• Established by Ministers in June 2010

The Task Force... who?

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Farming and the food industry matter• Need farmers to produce more food, and to

do so sustainably• Farmers feel frustrated by constraints on

their ability to make farming matter more• Farmers feel tied to the office by red tape• This helps neither farming nor other

outcomes

The Task Force... why?

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

“In support of a more competitive farming and food processing industry that contributes to the economic recovery, to identify ways to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and food-processors through a review of the relevant regulations and their implementation, and advise on how best to achieve a risk-based system of regulation in future whilst maintaining high environmental, welfare and safety standards”

The Task Force... what?

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Inclusive and consultative• Bottom up not top down• Bold but credible• Focused on:– disproportionate/over-complex

implementation– unnecessary regulatory measures– gold plated regulations

The Task Force... how?

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

In two sections:• Changing the way we work• Specific regulatory recommendations

The Task Force report

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Changing the way we work

From bureaucracy to responsibility and partnership

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Government sets the strategic framework then minimise its involvement

• Determine regulatory needs on the grounds of impact...

• ... and regulatory interventions on the basis of risk

• Pull industry into process as partners with Government

• Recognise businesses who earn trust with lighter or no touch, and encourage excellence

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Need a new approach and culture of regulation... essence of which is strengthening partnership

• Means new responsibilities for Government and industry... and we direct sets of recommendations to each

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Strategically, Government must:• trust industry, involve it in developing solutions

& set the framework for it to take responsibility• refocus regulation on outcomes not process• make inspection & enforcement more efficient

and effective• ensure competent authority remains key – but

ensure regulation is risk based• establish a system of ‘earned recognition’ so

regulators reward good practice[... continued]

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

[...continued]

Strategically, Government must:• strengthen its agricultural expertise• reduce and reform paperwork and process• engage in the EU much earlier and shape the

game

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Strategically, industry must:• demonstrate responsibility that merits trust• share the problem, outcome, evidence and

solution with Government• help develop workable ‘earned recognition’• make voluntary initiatives work• agree how bad behaviour should be punished• help Government shape the regulatory future... and should respond to our report

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Recommendations on

key regulatory frameworks

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Livestock movements• Nitrates Regulations• Cross-compliance, Single Payment Scheme &

CAP negotiations• Planning framework• Water management• Regulation of waste and IPPC• Pesticides• Meat hygiene inspections

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Livestock movements• simplify regulatory regime to reduce burdens

without compromising risk of disease spread• replace current system with new package of

measures...[...continued]

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Livestock movements package to include• rapid adoption of electronic reporting• a new CPH definition• allow approved separation facilities• allowing farm-to-farm movements without

standstills• allowing approved separation arrangements

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Nitrates Regulations• significantly reduce the paperwork burden• then move to catchment-based approach for

managing nutrients• integrate aims of Nitrates Directive with

those of Water Framework Directive – in way that minimises burdens, avoids

duplication & improves chance of better outcome

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Cross-compliance & Single Payment Scheme• simplify both in ways that ensure a focus on

outcomes while making farmers’ lives easier, e.g.

• SPS: Simpler mapping; abolish entitlements; replace current paperwork with online and prepopulated solutions

• Cross-compliance: make changes to cross-compliance conditions and remove one GAEC and two SMRs

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

CAP negotiations• learn the lessons of 2003!• resist mechanisms that increase complexity

(e.g. capping, quotas); • focus on outcomes not process; and • make better use of risk-assessment for

inspections

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Planning framework• improve planning regulations to allow farm

businesses to adapt, innovate and grow• address through National Planning Policy

Framework• improve permitted development, prior

notification procedures & General Permitted Development Order

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Water availability and supply• Water White Paper should recognise

importance of a sustainable water supply to farming sector

• better manage water as a resource for agriculture, e.g. lift specific burdens on private water supplies, water fittings regulations & abstraction licences

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Regulation of waste and IPPC• make it as light touch as possible• tailor environmental permitting forms and

guidance to the agricultural sector• apply a general licence to negligible risk waste

activities• adopt a three-tier approach to waste

regulations & exemptions• reduce IPPC inspections• allow farmers to dispose of fly-tipped material

at local authority waste sites

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Pesticides• short-term: increased support for specific off-

label approvals and minor uses• longer-term: risk-based regulatory

framework & further EU harmonisation so growers can use most effective pesticides

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Meat hygiene inspections• allow consistently competent meat processors

to source meat-inspection services from accredited private sector providers within a system managed by the competent authority

• longer-term: change EU rules to create risk-based system – pilot innovative inspection approaches

• short-term: greater use of ‘cold inspection’ in small processors with appropriate facilities

• implement TSE roadmap

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Conclusions

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

• Defra is now in the vanguard of Government’s better regulation drive

• Our 200+ recommendations set an agenda for change – for Government and industry

• Implementation will not be straightforward and cannot happen overnight – but be bold!

Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance

Defra needs a new culture and relationship with industry• Without this, regulatory change will

not happen• Time is right to make change happen• “It’s now or never...”

The report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force

Striking a balance: reducing burdens; increasing

responsibility; earning recognition

A report on better regulation in farming and food businesses