Farmers call for inspections reform

CHANGES to the European Union regime of cross compliance inspections on farms will be discussed at a meeting of the council of agricultural ministers in Luxembourg on Monday and Tuesday.

Farmers in Ireland have criticised the level of red tape associated with the regulatory requirements and have called for the introduction of radical reforms.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said Ireland’s initiative on many of the issues, including the need for adequate advance notice of inspections, was finding support from more member states.