The UK response to Commissioner Hogan’s request to Member States for ideas and suggestions on simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was submitted on 3 March. The response has been prepared in conjunction with the Devolved Administrations and following wide consultation across the UK farming industry. It sets out a number of ideas that meet the criteria set out in the Commissioner’s request, which are immediate, practical and non-legislative changes. We have also submitted a table of issues as a basis to inform future legislative change, as that will be required to genuinely simplify the CAP.

I have placed a copy, both of the response and table of the UK’s CAP simplification priorities and issues, in the House library.

This report was commissioned by the Agricultural Industries Confederation, the Crop Protection Association and the National Farmers Union. It concludes that 40 pesticide active substances are likely to be lost or restricted under European Union (EU) legislation between now and 2020. A further 47 active substances could be threatened. Consequent crop yield losses are likely to lead to substantial loss of profits and jobs across the farming and food sectors.

The report concludes that policies in this area should be science-led and based on a realistic and proportionate assessment of risk.

The Government has not carried out a detailed assessment of the analysis set out in the Andersons Centre report. However, we would support the central conclusions that current EU pesticide rules will reduce the range of available products. We also agree that decisions on pesticide approval should be proportionate and be taken on the basis of a scientific assessment of risk. Parts of the EU regime for the approval of pesticides do not currently work in this way.

The EU Regulation on the approval of pesticides includes a review clause. UK Ministers are pressing the Commission to make sure that the review is carried out thoroughly and takes full account of costs and benefits of regulation.