Pack calls for overhaul of EU farm inspection rules

SENSIBLE rules for the implementation of the new common agricultural policy (CAP) must be implemented as soon as the “ink is dry on the agreement”, the Scottish Government’s farming red tape “czar” Brian Pack said yesterday.

The present “over-zealous” approach of EU auditors to inspections to make sure farmers comply with the regulations is, he says, inhuman and a breach of human rights.

“The stress created by this process – or even more the threat of it – cannot be overstated and I’m almost convinced is at the root of farmers’ complaints about red tape,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that the Eurocrats want to create a 
fear culture as they believe this is the route to better compliance.”

Pack is currently carrying out an investigation into how red tape affects this country’s farmers at the behest of Scotland’s rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead.

He accepts that, for an industry receiving more than £500 million of public money, inspection of a percentage of businesses to check compliance is reasonable.

But, under pressure from EU auditors, the whole process had become unreasonable and Scottish Government officials, he claims, are powerless to slow down the march of more onerous testing.

“This makes inspections a key area for reform,” he added.

He is calling for the present system of “on-the-spot checks”, which can last more than two days – even when farmers are busy lambing or calving – to be outlawed.

The Scottish Government has accepted Pack’s recommendation that unannounced inspections should only apply where there is evidence, or a strong belief, that the practices of the recipient of support pose a risk. Otherwise, two weeks’ notice should be given.

He added: “In other walks of life, swoops on businesses are only accepted when some form of fraud is suspected and usually a search warrant has been issued – not to check that a livestock record is accurate and up-to-date.”