Vital standards are not undermined

I MUST start this column by wishing you all a very merry Christmas. While it has been a very challenging year for everyone, I do hope everyone is able to have some downtime over the festive period.

I know for many Christmas will be different this year, but with levels of coronavirus rising across the country it is so important that we stay safe and follow the government guidance. I must also pay tribute to our fantastic frontline NHS workers and those working in the health and social care sector, who have worked tirelessly over the last nine months. I do hope that with people being vaccinated already that 2021 will be a lot brighter for us all.

Farming has never had a better profile with support for buying Welsh, British and local products rocketing. It is heartening to know that the hard work, especially during such difficult times, has been noticed by the consumer. Here in Wales, we produce food to some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world all while caring for and enhancing the environment, and it is something that we are extremely proud to do. It is therefore vital that our standards are not undermined by products coming into the UK from other countries that don’t adhere to the same high standards as those produced here. At the time of writing of this column we are still in the dark about whether we will have a deal with the EU on January 1. I cannot stress highly enough the importance of a tariff free trading arrangement with our closest and largest export market, the home to nearly three quarters of our agri food exports.

That said I was pleased last week to see the UK Government introduce legislation to implement its new import UK Global tariff (UKGT). We have been clear that for countries and trading blocs with which we do not have a free trade deal that the tariffs that will be placed on our exports should be reciprocated with similar tariffs placed on imports to this country. The new regime ensures some level of fairness to UK farmers and helps to ensure that we will not be flooded by imports produced to standards that would be illegal here.

We are at a moment in time when both the world and our nation are facing a great many challenges and the impacts of climate change are arguably one of the greatest. It does however, present an opportunity for Welsh agriculture to showcase real leadership when it comes to sustainable farming.

Agriculture is uniquely placed to be a part of the solution to decarbonising the Welsh economy and achieving net zero as both an emission source and sink. There is no single answer and there will need to be a number of measures followed, but we are looking forward to the challenge.

NFU Cymru has clearly set out a pathway for our industry to reach Net Zero by 2040. It is pleasing to see that our red meat levy body HCC has launched a new report highlighting that Welsh red meat production is already world leading in terms of our sustainable production systems. HCC, like NFU Cymru recognise that there is much more we can all do, and we look forward to working with them to support Welsh farming meet the challenges of climate change whilst securing the continued supply of safe, high quality, affordable and nutritious food for all in society.