NFUS chief Withers attacks EU over 'unclear' guidance on support

Uncertainty over the interpretation of European Union rules on agricultural support was yesterday described by NFU Scotland chief executive James Withers as "trapping Scottish producers in a bureaucratic nightmare".

Withers said the land eligibility debacle in 2010 proved the EU support schemes rulebook remained lengthy and guidance was inconsistent and unclear.

"However, the penalties associated with any breach of the rules are severe and often totally disproportionate to the error made on farm," he said.

"The current level of fear attached to a business failing a farm inspection and subsequently losing some or all of its support payments due to the resultant penalties it a totally unacceptable state of affairs."

He wanted to see a total overhaul of the enforcement regime so that relatively minor technical and administrative errors were dealt with proportionately.

l Scottish MEP George Lyon revealed he had called on the European agricultural commissioner Dacian Ciolos to clarify whether the threat of a 100 million fine for misinterpretation of the rules on eligible acres was still hanging over Scotland.