This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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CAP reform consultation
06/10/2003
Reform of agricultural support under the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) marks a turning point for
Scottish farming and ruralScotland, a conference was told today.
Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross
Finnie was speaking at a conference to mark the opening
of the Executive's formal consultation on
implementation of CAP reform measures.
The measures agreed inLuxembourgin June will radically change the nature of future
support to agriculture. Decoupling
the central element of the reform
will break the link between farm subsidies
and production and make support contingent on
environmentally sensitive and sound farming practices.
The proposed Single Farm Payment substantially
removes the bureaucracy involved in agriculture support.
Flexibilities negotiated in the agreement will helpScotlandmanage the transition in subsidy regimes.
Mr Finnie said:
"CAP reform brings substantial opportunities
forScotland. By breaking the link between subsidy and production
we are allowing farmers the freedom to farm.
Decoupling will give the right signals for farmers to
become more market-focused.
"We want to see Scottish farmers producing
quality food for the market place. Farmers must see
themselves as the first link in a food chain aimed at
meeting consumer needs. But the business of farming is
wider than simply food production. Agriculture plays an
important role in maintaining our rural landscape,
keeping jobs in rural areas and maintaining rural
infrastructure.
"We recognise the vital role that farming plays in
sustaining the environment. We recognise too that
transition to any new arrangement of farming support will
bring challenges.
"We are determined to ensure that in implementing
these reforms we continue to protect and enhance
fragile areas maintained over generations through
sensitive agricultural management.
"Our overriding priority in implementing the CAP
reform measures will be to create a framework for the
sustainable growth of the industry and the rural
communities it supports.
"Through this consultation process we are
committed to working with a wide range of interests
including producers, processors, retailers, consumers
and environmentalists.This is an issue in which we all
have an interest and I would encourage the widest
possible participation in this important
consultation."
The Scottish Executive is seeking views
on:
Decoupling breaking the link between
subsidy and production
Partial recoupling retaining the link
to existing schemes for some sectors
Rural development and modulation
moving support to wider
environmental/sustainability goals
The use of national envelopes
retaining subsidy centrally to target specific
issues
The Executive is holding a three month
consultation on the main options for implementation,
ending on January 6, 2004.
The consultation was launched at a major stakeholder
conference inEdinburgh. Some 200 delegates attended from a wide
range of interests
producers, processors, retailers, consumers,
environmentalists and rural interests.
A range of public meetings and stakeholder
meetings will be held during the consultation period to
assist and inform the debate.
The reform of the CAP agreed by European Agriculture
Ministers on June 26 introduces major change in the nature
of future support to agriculture. It also provides
some key flexibilities in the implementation of the new
system, which will be introduced in 2005.