Coughlan opposes EC inspection plan

EUROPEAN Commission proposals to retain systematic unannounced inspections in animal identification and welfare and in feed controls were opposed by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan at a Council of Ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

“I believe this approach is excessive and unnecessary. I favour a 14-day notice of all inspections,” she said.

“In my view systematic unannounced inspections add significantly to cost and inefficiencies at a time when simplification is the aspiration,” she added.

Ms Coughlan said she fully supported the concept of cross-compliance in the context of the Single Payment Scheme and its extension to CAP Rural Development measures. But she felt the system was too complicated and placed an intolerable burden on farmers and administrators and damage positive aspects of the 2003 CAP reform.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said Ms Coughlan must redouble her efforts in the next fortnight so that a fair and reasonable inspection regime can be put in place for 2007.

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson said he is hopeful progress can be made on the issue, which will now go to an EU management committee with a view to reaching a conclusion by the June Farm Council meeting.

Sinn Féin agriculture spokesman Martin Ferris said the Government failed to secure any change to the current system of on-farm inspections.