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Review sees important role for home-grown cereals authority
12/05/1998
Refocussing research effort towards food contaminant issues and environmentally friendly farming is one of the recommendations of a recent review of the Home-Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) which Scottish Agriculture Minister Lord Sewel today endorsed.
Some of the other recommendations from the review include:
· revising the HGCA's mission statement to include specific reference to environmental and consumer concerns · the possibility of increased consumer involvement in the HGCA's activities · increased emphasis on technology transfer to cereals and oilseed growers.
Lord Sewel said:
"The review has highlighted the need for HGCA continually to tailor its services to the needs of its levy payers and of the wider political, economic and scientific environment.
"The HGCA has an important role in supporting the UK (including Scottish) cereals and oilseeds industries and I am glad that the recent review confirms its importance to this sector.
"I am pleased that the timing of the report will enable the recently appointed Chairman, Antony Pike, to be instrumental in implementing its recommendations. I wish him every success in taking this task forward."
The review, undertaken by the UK Agriculture Departments, found that the cereals and oilseeds sectors will be best served by the HGCA remaining as a statutory body funded by a levy on the industry. The success of the HGCA's efforts in promoting British cereals exports is also highlighted.
The review also makes a number of more detailed recommendations for improvements in the HGCA's market information services and other functions.
BACKGROUND
1. The HGCA is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) established under the Cereals Marketing Act 1965 to improve the production and marketing of home-grown cereals and, since 1989, oilseeds. It is funded almost entirely by statutory levies paid by cereal and oilseed growers and by cereal dealers and processors.
2. The HGCA's main activities currently include:
· operating a cereals and oilseeds market information service aimed at providing the industry with impartial, accurate, relevant and timely information;
· developing and funding research and development programmes for cereals and oilseeds with a view to improving the competitiveness and profitability of those industries;
· promoting the development of British cereals exports with the prime objective of informing UK growers of the requirements of export markets and overseas buyers of the UK's attributes as a supplier, and
· funding and monitoring selected projects undertaken by Food From Britain to expand markets for cereals based UK food and drink.
3. Reviews of NDPBs are carried out at least once every five years. The recent review of the HGCA was announced 29 August 1997 (release 247/97).
4. Media copies of the HGCA report are available from the MAFF press office by calling 0171 238 5603). Members of the public and write to Mrs P Johnston, MAFF, 10 Whitehall Place, (East Block), London, SW1A 2HH or call 0171 270 8265.
News Release: 0968/98
12 May 1998