Year wait for reform likely

FARMERS planning for reformed EU supports may have to wait for a further year before any of the new CAP proposals are implemented.

Informed sources believe the proposed start-up date for reform of the EU payments scheme of January 1, 2004 is unattainable, and a more likely introduction date is January 1, 2005.

It is likely to be October at the earliest before agreement is reached on the controversial Fischler proposals, including decoupling of EU payments.