Reduced regulatory burden on farmers must continue in future reform of CAP - MEP Kelleher

“The Irish Government must immediately make a decision to make use of the flexibilities that have now been agreed at European level to support Irish farmers,” said Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher.

Kelleher, an MEP for Ireland South, was speaking just after the European Parliament adopted its final position on the Simplification of certain CAP rules mechanism today in Strasbourg.

“Farmers play an irreplaceable role in our society. Across the EU, including Ireland, farmers are struggling with increasing input prices, low prices for their products and low incomes.

“To make matters worse, farmers face significant regulatory and administrative burdens and unfair competition in the EU food chain and from third countries

“The adjustments adopted today focus on changes intended to benefit farmers in reducing their administrative burden, as well as giving some flexibility to national administrations to adapt the implementation of strategic plans while addressing farmers’ challenges.

“The targeted review relates to the following conditionalities: GAEC 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 with relate to soil cover during sensitive periods, crop rotation, non-productive features, and targeted exemptions to allow ploughing and also different levels of compliance.

“In addition, Ireland will now have the option to double their number of CAP Strategic Plan changes from one to two per year.

“For very small farmers, under 10ha, this proposal will exempt them from controls and penalties related to compliance with conditionality requirements.

“This is an important first step. It is now accepted at EU level that farmers face tough regulatory burdens and intense and often off-putting conditionalities while doing their job of growing the food Europe relies on.

“In the next term of the European Parliament, a full review of the CAP is planned. This acceptance of the need to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers needs to be carried through.

“If elected, I will work hard with other like-minded MEPs to make this a reality for Ireland’s farmers,” concluded Kelleher.

-ENDS-