Farmers’ union sets out brexit commitments

The National Farmers Union in Scotland (NFUS) has drawn up a list of commitments it wants governments to address following an exit from the European Union.

In a statement to the UK and Scottish governments the union has said the next four rounds of farming payments must be delivered as planned and in future deals on tariffs and market access, farming “must not be used as bargaining chip”.

The union has also set out to the governments:

•    Continued recognition of the Scotch beef and Scotch lamb PGIs must be secured.

•    The trading arrangements negotiated with Europe and the rest of the world must allow all the workers that the Scottish farming and the food processing industries rely upon to continue to play their vital role.

•    Overly prescriptive bureaucratic requirements carried by Scottish agriculture that add costs but deliver no added value must be removed, to allow farming to be competitive and this must be taken.

•    All decisions relating to the use of pesticides, herbicides and new technologies must be based on science.  A risk, rather than a hazard or precautionary-based approach, is needed.

•   The promotion of Scottish food and drink in export markets must be prioritised.  Scottish agriculture’s world class products can grow exports, thereby supporting economic activity and jobs in Scotland.

•    Effective advisory services, practical research, tailored education, meaningful knowledge transfer, and measures that support innovation are required to drive efficient and profitable agricultural production in Scotland.

•    Public bodies, governments and local authorities must all adopt food procurement policies based on sourcing of food produced in Scotland first and foremost.

•    Clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling (COOL) on meat, meat products, milk and dairy products must be delivered as soon as possible.