Cross-compliance inspections cut

THE number of farmers to be inspected under cross-compliance will decline by 2,000 this year from last year’s figure of 10,000.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan announced the move following clarification from the European Commission.

She said it represents a reduction of over 10,000 inspections when compared with the coupled regime in 2004 when over 18,000 inspections had to be undertaken.