The Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) has set out what it believes should be contained within the much-anticipated Agriculture Bill, which is expected to be published by the Government tomorrow (September 12).
TFA chief executive George Dunn said: “It has been 25 years since we saw the last piece of primary legislation dedicated to the agricultural industry.
“However, most commentators are suggesting that the real comparison is to the Agriculture Act 1947 since this was the last time that the UK Government set out a comprehensive agricultural policy for the country prior to joining what became the EU in 1973.”
The TFA is looking for the Agriculture Bill to cover:
- Transition;
- Working with the Devolved Administrations;
- Better regulation of the supply chain;
- Protection of production standards in international trade;
- Rules to require public authorities to specify British when procuring food;
- Additional measures required for a new ‘public payments for public goods’ scheme;
- Comprehensive changes to agricultural tenancy legislation;
- Measures to assist with productivity growth.
“Much is expected of this Bill. We need the Government to come forward with a comprehensive strategy for agriculture both at a UK level, in consultation with the Devolved Administrations, and for England,” added Dunn.
“A failure to match expectation with delivery will be a major missed opportunity given that we are unlikely to see another piece of legislation such as this for at least another generation.”
