Livestock fears over EC red tape

WITH only ten days to go before farmers have to submit their application for the single farm payment scheme, the Scottish Beef Cattle Association has suggested that some producers are questioning the viability of keeping livestock because of the severity of cross-compliance penalties.

A south-west of Scotland cattle producer is facing a deduction of 7,500 from his single farm payment and SBCA chairman John Bell reckoned that between 5 and 10 per cent of all livestock producers were involved to some degree in the issue.

The penalties are being imposed by the Scottish Government following a visit by inspectors from the European Union last year. They found too much leniency in the Scottish system, with failings ranging from missing ear tags, wrong numbers on passports, delays in reporting calf births and not submitting passports on time.

Bell described the penalties being imposed on 2009 SFPs as disproportionate to the discrepancies. He pointed out that the nature of the penalties means that large-scale farmers face larger losses as the inspectors count the mistakes per farm.

SBCA development officer Brian Simpson said part of the problem related to incorrect advice provided in previous working documents issued by European Commission regulation.

He said: "Many producers fear that it would be impossible to come through an inspection without incurring some kind of penalty and are questioning the future of keeping livestock."

The SBCA agrees that the complete traceability is essential to maintain customer trust through food safety and so maintain the premium value of Scotch beef. However, the association also questions what impact on food safety and traceability many of the rules being enforced will actually have.

Another producer, who discovered an error made by the British Cattle Movement Service has cost him a 3 per cent penalty, said: "It really makes you examine the financial risk of SFP penalties and keeping livestock."

Simpson added: "With the best will in the world, the occasional mistake will be made but this does not mean the business is less than competent or at risk to the industry and consumer.

"Penalising farmers with a percentage deduction from all payments is not just unfair – it is entirely wrong and needs the European Commission to act quickly to review their tactics.

"Confidence is slowly building in our beef sector and must not be undermined by red tape and needless penalties."