Assurance given over animal health costs

THE introduction of responsibility and cost sharing on animal health is not just about dumping additional costs on the farming industry, the economist charged with making recommendations to the government has promised.

Rebuilding trust between farmers and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is equally important, Rosemary Radcliffe, chair of the advisory committee set up by the last government to advise on future policy, told a conference in Hexham, Northumberland, yesterday.

"I recognise the fears in the industry that it is a done deal and is all about sharing costs and raising revenue but this is not the case," Radcliffe said. "There is widespread agreement that we need a fresh start but no commitment yet on precisely what form this should take."

Her committee, she said, would be placing great emphasis on how trust and consensus could be earned. A robust analysis of current costs and perceived benefits was required to help the committee reach firm conclusions. And she indicated a distinction between the introduction of health schemes to eliminate disease and help farmers and national emergencies, such as an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The new government was committed to investigating ways of dealing with disease outbreaks, and farm minister Jim Paice had promised while in Opposition that a future Conservative government would take no action until her committee's recommendations, which are due before the end of the year, were published.

The aim would be to achieve a "fair and equitable" outcome and the application of best practice to ensure value for money for both the industry and the taxpayer. The industry has welcomed the demise of the Animal Health Bill, which the last government had hoped to rush through in the autumn before the committee reported.

Radcliffe was speaking at a conference of beef farmers preceding today's national beef event, Beef Expo 2010, being held by the National Beef Association at Hexham Auction Mart.