Decoupling would ‘ruin’ EC proposal

THE concept of partial decoupling, where the link between production and direct payments is severed, would make a dog’s dinner of a key EC proposal to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, it was claimed yesterday.

Decoupling is one of the main reform proposals put forward by EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler. But the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA), the only Irish farm body to favour the idea, said it was concerned a form of partial decoupling was discussed at this week’s meeting of EU agriculture ministers.

Recently-elected ICSA president John Deegan said what Germany is in effect now proposing would be the worst of all worlds.

Farmers would end up with all the bureaucracy of the old system, including retention dates, quota penalties and livestock inspections, but for half the premium.

Mr Deegan said farmers would also have to deal with the new farm audit, also for half the money or less.

Worst of all, it was an absolutely disastrous recipe for beef and lamb prices because stocking would have to be kept at an artificially high level.

It would also be particularly disastrous in the context of potential WTO cuts in export refunds and import tariffs.

This would lead to the exploitation of farmers’, he said.