Farmers voice concern at differing rules for UK

EU WITHDRAWAL: NFUS tells MSPS of possible effects of not remaining aligned with rest of the United Kingdom

The possibility of regulatory divergence from the rest of the UK is a “major concern” for Scotland’s farmers, MSPS have been told.

During an evidence session on the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill – which aims to “keep pace” with the EU on devolved regulatory matters – the Finance and Constitution Committee heard of the possible effects of not remaining aligned with the rest of the UK.

Jonnie Hall, director of policy at NFU Scotland (NFUS), told MSPS there was a risk of “significant effects” on the UK market if standards were different in devolved nations.

He added that NFUS favoured closer alignment through mutually agreed frameworks.

Mr Hall said: “If we don’t have those common frameworks across the UK, there’s a distinct possibility that we will start to see the integrity of the UK internal market being affected

“There’s a distinct possibility that we will start to see the integrity of the UK internal market being affected. JONNIE HALL, NFUS

if we have a significant divergence in regulation across the UK. “That is of significant concern to us.” Mr Hall said it would be complicated to “square the triangle” of the three political entities – the EU and the UK and Scottish governments – involved in the post-brexit regulatory shift.

In July, the UK Government published proposals for an internal UK market, which Mr Hall said would “drive a coach and horses” through the idea of commonly agreed frameworks because something created to a different standard in one part of the UK would then have to be accepted in another part where standards were different.

Mr Hall gave an example based on if the weedkiller glyphosate was banned in Scotland but not in England.

He said that a grain farmer in Northumberland who used the product would have an advantage over one in Berwick who did not and the English produce would still be allowed to be sold in Scotland.

Picture: Shutterstock. The UK internal market is the most important one for Scottish agriculture.