In an impassioned cross-examination of the Welsh Government today (03 February), the Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – blasted Cardiff Bay’s recent NVZ regulation announcement as being "like a criminal electronic tag for farmers."
According to the record of the Welsh Parliament, the Welsh Labour-led administration had promised seven times to refrain from implementing such a change during the present pandemic. The most recent commitment came from Lesley Griffiths on the 14 October 2020.
Commenting after her questions to the Minister, Janet said:
“The betrayal felt by our rural communities at this regulatory push, in spite of seven recorded promises to abstain from its implementation during the present pandemic, cannot be quantified. These new NVZ regulations are like a criminal electronic tag for farmers.
“These regulations are an unnecessary diversion at a time when public services are strained and the scrutiny abilities of the Senedd capped. It is important for us all to remember that, whilst the Welsh Government laid this new layer of bureaucratic red tape, 680 Coronavirus cases were being reported in Wales.
“It is also misguided, as surveys - including those conducted by AHDB - continue to show that farmers are commanding the deepest trust and viewed as environmentally beneficial. With this in mind, the severe lack of trust that these proposals place in our farming community is remarkable.
“In looking over the document in more detail, it is clear that Regulation 15 shows that the Welsh Government does not believe farmers capable of using appropriate spreading equipment. Meanwhile, Regulations 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, and 43 show a desire to see farmers bogged down in paperwork.
“In spite of the Welsh Government publicly claiming that their new proposals are proportionate to the risks, NRW’s very own Executive Director for Evidence, Policy and Permitting has spoken of a steady decline in pollution incidents in the last two years. Their approach to this issue is in disarray.
“NRW have published a map showing that huge swathes of Wales have had zero agricultural incidents to water since 2010. Pollution incidents are declining, so why have the Welsh Government decided to curtail farmers’ freedom to farm?
“Sadly, the £13 million being made available this year to assist with water quality and farm nutrient management infrastructure is merely a drop of slurry in a very large pit. This is why I asked the Minister to explain what assessment she has made of the number of farm businesses that will be forced to close as result of these regulations.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- On 8 April 2020, the Minister informed the Senedd that she was minded to introduce the regulations once the crisis had ended. On the 14 October 2020, the Minister said: “I have committed not to do anything while we are at the height of the pandemic.”
- A recent report by AHDB found that: 2020 has deepened consumer trust in the food supply chain; Farmers continue to command the deepest trust; UK farming is seen as environmentally beneficial.
- Other regulations to note - Regulation 18 sees the Welsh Government banning the spreading of organic manure with high readily available nitrogen on land for between 3 and 5 months; Regulation 29 sees the devolved administration demanding that farmers provide storage for all slurry produced in the 5 to 6 months storage period.
- The total income from farming in the UK is expected to be down 21% in 2020. The RIA has calculated that the upfront capital costs of this policy could run to £360 million.
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
