COPA-COGECA, the umbrella organisation representing EU farm unions and cooperatives, has welcomed the outcome of a new report by the Stoiber Group on cutting red tape in Europe, stressing that the next phase must be to simplify and cut excessive administration under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Speaking in Brussels, Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said: "I welcome recommendations made in this seven-year report by the High-Level Group (HLG) on Administration on cutting red tape in Europe. I thank the EU Commission and other EU institutions for their commitment to this initiative.
"In particular, the HLG recommends that the Commission adopt a new EU action programme and strengthens existing EU programmes for reducing regulatory costs such as REFIT" (REFIT was launched by the EU Commission to review complicated legislation and simplify it).
Mr Pesonen went on: "I also welcome the recommendation that all member states should adopt national targets to cut regulatory costs, accelerate national implementation of EU legislation and make sure that they do not add excessive amounts of administration to EU legislation or go beyond EU requirements (gold plating).
"The next phase must be to ensure a major simplification of the new CAP. It stifles innovation and investment in the sector and causes a sharp increase in EU farmers and agri-cooperative costs, when they are already facing high input costs and increasing challenges."
Market round-up
Lawrie & Symington Ltd held their second annual show and sale of suckled calves in Lanark on Tuesday when the championship was won by a British BlueX bullock from T Laird & Son, Carbello Farm, Cumnock that sold for £1,320.
The 411 heifer calves sold to 460 pence per kilogramme and averaged 248.6p, while 505 bullocks peaked at 468p and levelled at 265.8p.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1,066 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of 380 per head and 190.5p per kg to average 148.2p (-4.1p on the week). The firm also had 417 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £90 for Texels and £64 for Blackfaces.
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 31 prime cattle forward in Dumfries yesterday when heifers sold to 231.5p and averaged 216.1p, while bullocks peaked at 243.5p and levelled at 212.2p.
There were 93 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when beef cows averaged 121.3p and dairy cows levelled at 83.8p.
The firm also sold 1,350 prime lambs to £74 and 184p to average 150.8p (-2.6p).
The 520 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £110 for Texels and average £66.27 (+£2.99), while light ewes peaked at £66.50 for Blackfaces and then levelled at £40.37 (+£2.60).
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