New Year’s thoughts on Brexit and TB control
I KNOW I’m a bit late in saying it, but Happy New Year to you all. It’s been a mixed start to 2017 for Welsh farmers, what with TB consultations, avian influenza, the Small Grants Scheme and most recently the announcement that leaving the European Union means leaving the Single Market.
During her speech, Prime Minister Theresa May set out her 12-point plan showing what she expects to achieve in the next two years. In this speech the Prime Minister confirmed that the UK Government’s intention was to leave the Single Market as well as the Customs Union.
While the announcement brings some clarity as to what sort of trading environment to expect post-Brexit, I know it will be of concern to many Welsh farmers. Many are extremely dependent on export markets, in particular EU export markets. With more than a third of our Welsh lamb crop and around 90% of food and drink exports going to the EU, there can be no doubt about how important these markets are to our country.
One of NFU Cymru members’ top priorities is that access to European markets should not be fettered by tariffs or non-tariff barriers. With ongoing participation in the Single Market and the Customs Union being off the agenda, it means we need to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU if we are to avoid tariffs on our exports to the EU.
Two things worry me about this announcement. Firstly, a freetrade agreement with the EU must include agricultural produce, and secondly how long such a deal might take to conclude. Without a quick, comprehensive free-trade agreement, it is vital that phased arrangements are in place to avoid a “cliff-edge” that would be extremely disruptive to Wales’ farmers.
NFU Cymru issued a response at the start of the month to the Welsh Government consultation A Refreshed TB Eradication Programme.
It was made clear that farmers are frustrated with the proposals to impose stricter cattle restrictions without actively addressing the disease in wildlife. Until now the Welsh Government has failed to implement a comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease that has meant nearly 10,000 cattle were slaughtered over a 12-month period.
Stringent cattle controls increase year after year, and suggestions that they should increase further, without tackling the reservoir of the disease in wildlife, is incomprehensible from a farmer’s perspective.