The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Top farmer slams RPID for ‘climate of fear’
LIVESTOCK: Calls for ‘overzealous’ farm inspections to be relaxed after Brexit
A leading Scottish farmer claimed yesterday that overzealous farm inspections have resulted in a widespread “climate of fear” in the industry.
Appealing for a more liberal approach to policing any post-Brexit farm policy, NFU Scotland’s vice-president Martin Kennedy told Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing at the farm business event AgriScot that the current system was creating health issues for farmers and dissuading them from entering the livestock industry for fear of incurring serious penalties for minor errors.
He said it had reached the stage where farmers were even nervous about contacting their Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) area offices for help in case a call led to an inspection.
“The fear culture is terrible,” he said at the end of the event’s annual debate.
“One farmer had a heart attack half way through an inspection and the family are convinced stress was a contributory factor. It has a serious psychological impact and no other industry is treated like this. Others get a yellow card, a warning.”
However Mr Kennedy said he was optimistic there would be an improvement with a post-Brexit policy.
“We would still need compliance, but the vast majority of farmers and crofters tow the line 100%. A genuine clerical mistake made when they are under the cosh with time and weather should never be penalised in the manner it is right now. The penalty matrix absolutely stinks. It does not fit the crime.”
Mr Ewing said he sympathised with the isolated life many farmers experience and insisted RPID staff were aware of the wellbeing of farmers.
However, he added: “We will look again to see if there is more we can do.”
The rural secretary also announced the composition of his new simplification taskforce which will advise on the way farm policy can be made less complex in future.
He said RPID area offices had already made 350 suggestions which his taskforce will now consider.
Mr Ewing added: “Following analysis of our recent stability and simplicity consultation, there is a clear recognition in the short-term for the need to unwind some of the complexity of CAP and release efficiencies.
“However, I have been clear that this must be done in a way that does not compromise the control measures that protect the security of our food, the welfare of our animals, our environmental standards and ultimately our ability to trade on our reputation for quality produce.”