EC probes cross-compliance reform

A COMMITMENT to look at on-farm inspections is included in a document prepared by the European Commission on the vexed issue of cross compliance and accepted by a Council of Agricultural Ministers in Luxembourg yesterday.

A spokesman for Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said that as part of the council’s conclusions, the EC has been asked to study ways of improving the practicability of cross-compliance provisions as they apply to advance notice of on-the-spot checks and control rates.

IFA president Padraig Walshe, speaking in Luxembourg, where he earlier met with Ms Coughlan, said the minister needs to negotiate adequate flexibility in the commission’s report in order to ensure 14 days’ advance notice will be provided by her Department to all farmers for the 2007 inspections.

ICMSA deputy president, John O’Leary said it was never the intention of the system to see farmers penalised for minor technical infringements. The ICMSA was confident the ministers will agree on measures designed to expand the range and scope of tolerances based around a “yellow card” warning system.

Such a system could be introduced under existing EU regulations and would ensure that the majority of farmers had no penalties applied, he said, adding that the ICMSA could not agree to the start of the 2007 inspections until such a system of tolerances was negotiated and agreed.