The Welsh Affairs Committee today publishes its report
on Brexit: priorities for Welsh agriculture. The
report highlights key priorities for UK-EU negotiations and calls
on the Government to initiate policies to support Welsh agriculture
through increased productivity, promotion and public procurement.
The report further calls for a strong Welsh voice as the UK and
Welsh Governments discuss future agricultural policy in
Wales.
Launching the report, Committee Chair David T. C. Davies MP
said:
“The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union
will have significant implications for the agricultural industry
and wider food sector in Wales, and there are a wide range of views
within the Welsh agricultural community about Brexit. Where there
is a clear consensus is in seeking to minimise any adverse impacts
of Brexit, and maximise opportunities for the sector.
“Our report reflects the range of views that we have heard
during our inquiry, identifies key priorities for the sector, and
where possible seeks to establish a common view on the best way
forward. Given the importance of agriculture to the Welsh economy,
it is vital that all interested parties work together to provide
Welsh farmers and their businesses with the certainty they need to
plan for the long-term.”
Priorities for UK-EU negotiations
The EU is the main market for the export of Welsh
agricultural products, providing the market for over 80% of food
and animal exports. The report emphasises that “barrier-free access
to EU markets is therefore essential to the future of Welsh
agriculture.” The report calls upon the Government to “recognise
that the overwhelming view of the representatives we heard from
felt that they would be best served by retaining membership of the
Single Market and Customs Union, in order to ensure current access
to EU markets with no new barriers—be they in the form of tariffs,
customs controls, or other checks.”
The report also highlights the need to “ensure that future
arrangements for geographic indicators lead to no reduction in
protection for agricultural producers”, specifically continued
recognition of Welsh products – such as Welsh lamb and beef,
Anglesey sea salt and Welsh laverbread – by the EU’s system of
Protected Geographic Indicators.
Common frameworks and trade
negotiations
Ahead of the anticipated introduction of the Agriculture Bill
to the UK Parliament, the Committee “urge the UK Government to work
with the Welsh Government to agree on the areas of agricultural
policy to which common frameworks will need to apply, and to
establish how these will work, and the mechanisms for their
governance” – including Committee scrutiny. Following the
Agriculture minister’s recognition that replacing the Common
Agricultural Policy would be a matter for the Welsh Government, an
Agriculture Bill will also need to be introduced in the National
Assembly for Wales.
The report recommends the agreement of “arrangements for
seeking the input and consent of the devolved institutions in Wales
on trade deals” that the UK Government negotiates post-Brexit,
given their implications for areas of devolved policy. It also
warns that “when securing new trade agreements the Government must
not tolerate lower environmental and welfare standards for food
imported into the UK, than food which is produced within the
UK.”
Agricultural support post-Brexit
The report finds that following the UK’s departure from the
Common Agricultural Policy, “in the short-term ongoing financial
support will be essential to sustain the agricultural sector in
Wales”, to provide similar levels of certainty over financial
support to Welsh farmers as currently provided by CAP.
The Committee argues that the move to a future subsidies
system “will need to be done in a way which ensures that farmers do
not face a cliff-edge with regard to financial support”, and
highlights the need for Wales to receive its fair share of future
funds for agricultural support. The report therefore calls on the
UK Government to “agree with the devolved administrations a
mechanism for future allocations of funding for agricultural
support”, prior to the Agriculture Bill reaching Committee Stage in
the House of Commons. It also welcomes the Welsh Government’s
commitment to ring-fence any funding provided by the UK
Government.
Productivity, promotion and
procurement
The report recommends that the UK Government work with the
Welsh Government to develop a joint strategy “setting out how it
will support and promote Welsh agriculture - and particularly the
red meat sector - once the UK has left the EU.”
In terms of the red meat sector, the report urges the
Government to overhaul of “the complex framework underpinning the
red meat levy so that the value accrued from the slaughter of
animals reared in Wales is reinvested in the promotion of Welsh
produce.” It also highlights potential “opportunities for
increasing the flexibility of public bodies to procure local
produce”, and calls for guidance from the UK and devolved
administrations in this area.
