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.