Farming red tape limited, says report

THE burden of red tape on farmers resulting from compulsory standards of environmental protection, public, animal and plant health and animal welfare (cross-compliance) is very limited, according to a new report carried out for the European Commission.

Based on research carried out in Ireland and four other EU member states, the report also showed the model of direct payments to farmers chosen by each country also has a limited influence on the administrative burden they face.

The commission said these results, and the proposals for simplification contained in the recent Health Check, put the Common Agricultural Policy in a good position to meet the target of a 25% reduction in administrative burden by 2012.

Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said simplifying life for farmers is one of her priorities.

The study, carried out by Ramboll Management on behalf of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, looks into the administrative burden for farmers resulting from the single payment scheme looks at the situation in countries with different models for implementing the 2003 CAP reform.

The commission said the study indicates the actual administrative burden related to cross-compliance is very limited.

Cross-compliance is the set of standards farmers have to respect to fully receive their payments. In brief, the study shows the total burden on farmers to a large extent depends on the actual, practical implementation of the single payment scheme rather than on the model chosen.