The report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force

1. The report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance: reducing burdens; increasing responsibility; earning recognition A report on better regulation in farming and food businesses

2. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance The Task Force... who? • Independent of Government • Industry-led, but with non-industry representation • Members have wide-ranging personal expertise and experience • Established by Ministers in June 2010

3. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance The Task Force... why? • Farming and the food industry matter • Need farmers to produce more food, and to do so sustainably • Farmers feel frustrated by constraints on their ability to make farming matter more • Farmers feel tied to the office by red tape • This helps neither farming nor other outcomes

4. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance The Task Force... what? “In support of a more competitive farming and food processing industry that contributes to the economic recovery, to identify ways to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and food-processors through a review of the relevant regulations and their implementation, and advise on how best to achieve a risk-based system of regulation in future whilst maintaining high environmental, welfare and safety standards”

5. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance The Task Force... how? • Inclusive and consultative • Bottom up not top down • Bold but credible • Focused on: • disproportionate/over-complex implementation • unnecessary regulatory measures • gold plated regulations

6. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance The Task Force report In two sections: • Changing the way we work • Specific regulatory recommendations

7. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Changing the way we work From bureaucracy to responsibility and partnership

8. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance • Government sets the strategic framework then minimise its involvement • Determine regulatory needs on the grounds of impact... • ... and regulatory interventions on the basis of risk • Pull industry into process as partners with Government • Recognise businesses who earn trust with lighter or no touch, and encourage excellence

9. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance • Need a new approach and culture of regulation... essence of which is strengthening partnership • Means new responsibilities for Government and industry... and we direct sets of recommendations to each

10. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Strategically, Government must: • trust industry, involve it in developing solutions & set the framework for it to take responsibility • refocus regulation on outcomes not process • make inspection & enforcement more efficient and effective • ensure competent authority remains key – but ensure regulation is risk based • establish a system of ‘earned recognition’ so regulators reward good practice [... continued]

11. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance [...continued] Strategically, Government must: • strengthen its agricultural expertise • reduce and reform paperwork and process • engage in the EU much earlier and shape the game

12. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Strategically, industry must: • demonstrate responsibility that merits trust • share the problem, outcome, evidence and solution with Government • help develop workable ‘earned recognition’ • make voluntary initiatives work • agree how bad behaviour should be punished • help Government shape the regulatory future ... and should respond to our report

13. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Recommendations on key regulatory frameworks

14. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance • Livestock movements • Nitrates Regulations • Cross-compliance, Single Payment Scheme & CAP negotiations • Planning framework • Water management • Regulation of waste and IPPC • Pesticides • Meat hygiene inspections

15. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Livestock movements • simplify regulatory regime to reduce burdens without compromising risk of disease spread • replace current system with new package of measures... [...continued]

16. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Livestock movements package to include • rapid adoption of electronic reporting • a new CPH definition • allow approved separation facilities • allowing farm-to-farm movements without standstills • allowing approved separation arrangements

17. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Nitrates Regulations • significantly reduce the paperwork burden • then move to catchment-based approach for managing nutrients • integrate aims of Nitrates Directive with those of Water Framework Directive • in way that minimises burdens, avoids duplication & improves chance of better outcome

18. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Cross-compliance & Single Payment Scheme • simplify both in ways that ensure a focus on outcomes while making farmers’ lives easier, e.g. • SPS: Simpler mapping; abolish entitlements; replace current paperwork with online and prepopulated solutions • Cross-compliance: make changes to cross-compliance conditions and remove one GAEC and two SMRs

19. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance CAP negotiations • learn the lessons of 2003! • resist mechanisms that increase complexity (e.g. capping, quotas); • focus on outcomes not process; and • make better use of risk-assessment for inspections

20. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Planning framework • improve planning regulations to allow farm businesses to adapt, innovate and grow • address through National Planning Policy Framework • improve permitted development, prior notification procedures & General Permitted Development Order

21. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Water availability and supply • Water White Paper should recognise importance of a sustainable water supply to farming sector • better manage water as a resource for agriculture, e.g. lift specific burdens on private water supplies, water fittings regulations & abstraction licences

22. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Regulation of waste and IPPC • make it as light touch as possible • tailor environmental permitting forms and guidance to the agricultural sector • apply a general licence to negligible risk waste activities • adopt a three-tier approach to waste regulations & exemptions • reduce IPPC inspections • allow farmers to dispose of fly-tipped material at local authority waste sites

23. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Pesticides • short-term: increased support for specific off-label approvals and minor uses • longer-term: risk-based regulatory framework & further EU harmonisation so growers can use most effective pesticides

24. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Meat hygiene inspections • allow consistently competent meat processors to source meat-inspection services from accredited private sector providers within a system managed by the competent authority • longer-term: change EU rules to create risk-based system – pilot innovative inspection approaches • short-term: greater use of ‘cold inspection’ in small processors with appropriate facilities • implement TSE roadmap

25. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Conclusions

26. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance • Defra is now in the vanguard of Government’s better regulation drive • Our 200+ recommendations set an agenda for change – for Government and industry • Implementation will not be straightforward and cannot happen overnight – but be bold!

27. Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance Defra needs a new culture and relationship with industry • Without this, regulatory change will not happen • Time is right to make change happen • “It’s now or never...”

28. The report of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force Striking a balance: reducing burdens; increasing responsibility; earning recognition A report on better regulation in farming and food businesses