New European regulations, Smarter Rules for Safer Food (SRSF), that replace 70 previous European regulations in order to improve health and safety standards were introduced on 14 December 2019.

Included within the SRSF are the Official Controls Regulation (OCR) and the Plant Health Regulation (PHR), both of which now apply, whilst the Animal Health Regulation (AHR) will apply from 21 April 2021.  These new regulations will apply whilst the UK remains a member of the EU and during any transition period, and be included within the Withdrawal Act under a no deal scenario.

Border Inspection Posts and Designated Points of Entry are now being redesignated as Border Control Posts (BCPs).  Importers are required to give the BCPs at least one working day’s notice prior to import, or when not possible, a minimum of 4 hours.  They also need to complete a Common Health Entry Document (CHED) which replaces the Common Veterinary Entry Document and Common Entry Document.

TRACES NT is the new system for notifying imports coming from outside the EU.  Details on how to register can be found here.  Imports which have been notified before 14 December on the previous TRACES Classic system that have arrived on or after 14 December MUST be re-registered on the new system.  Those  who used TRACES Classic for within EU trading must continue to do so.

For further information, please see here.

For any technical help required with the registration, email any questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A new research initiative funded as part of the European Social Fund’s KESS 2 programme at Bangor University and backed by Hybu Cig Cymru will provide opportunities for Universities and the industry to support collaborative research projects towards sustainable farming practices.

Applications are open - the funding will be available to three fully-funded PhD scholarships.  Those successful will be supported by Dr. Prysor Williams, Bangor University, and will research into:

• Meeting environmental targets while maintaining profitability for the beef and sheep sectors of Wales
• Strategies for meeting targets for ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching reduction for Wales beef and sheep farms
• Strategies to reach zero carbon sheep and beef production on Welsh farms

There is also funding available for a PhD studentship for ‘Determining the potential for precision grazing to improve the resilience of livestock production systems.’  Applications are open until 12 noon on 20 January 2020.

The principle of sustainable agriculture has become increasingly important since the proposals made by Welsh Government in the Brexit and Our Land consultation in 2018.  To that, and this year’s Sustainable Farming and Our Land follow-up, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has outlined numerous concerns over the impracticality and overoptimism of introducing such a sustainable farming scheme alongside removing Single Farm Payments - when considering that 80% of farm income in Wales currently comes from direct payments.

Despite this, initiatives such as the above that play a part in finding the balance between sustainable farming practices and maintaining a profitable farm business will be essential if such a scheme is introduced in Wales.  The Welsh Government must however realise that moving towards a more sustainable agricultural industry and working towards zero emissions will take decades.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have recently reviewed the current General Licences for controlling certain bird species in Wales.  General Licences allow for certain actions to be carried out for controlling a list of bird species without the need to apply for a specific licence.  However, you must ensure that you understand and comply with the conditions of the respective licence in use.

General Licenses GL001, GL002, GL003, GL004 and GL016 were considered unlawful under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and therefore have been revoked and replaced with:

• GL001 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds to prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit or to prevent the spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit. Species covered: Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Canadian Goose.
• GL002 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of preserving public health and preventing the spread of disease to humans. Species covered: Feral Pigeon
• GL004 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of conserving wild birds. Species covered: Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Jay
• GL016 - Licence to take and release alive certain wild birds from food premises for the purpose of preserving public health and public safety. Species covered: Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, House Sparrow, Starling, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great tit, Pied Wagtail

For more information click here.  If you are required to control a species which is not listed due to health and safety, conservation or to prevent damage to livestock, a specific licence must be applied for here.

General Licences remain in place until 31 December 2019.  It is proposed that these Licences, which are reviewed annually, will be reissued on 1 January 2020 without any significant changes, followed by an evidence based mid-year review.

Oil Storage Regulations (OSR) require anyone in Wales who has the capacity to store more than 200 litres of oil (44 gallons) for their home or business to install an integrally-bunded tank to a required standard for preventing leakage or pollution.

Since 15 March 2016 all new or replacement tanks have had to comply with the regulations from the date of installation.

Existing tanks at significant risk (within 10 metres of surface water or wetland, or 50 metres of a borehole or well) have had to comply with the regulations since the 15th March 2018. 

Existing tanks which are not at a significant risk to water will have to comply by 15 March 2020.

The regulations cover all types of oil (except bitumen) and liquids including petrol, diesel, vegetable oils, bio-fuels,  synthetic and mineral oils, and waste oil.  

ALL domestic oil storage tanks i.e. for heating oil are exempt until the tanks are replaced.  

A farmhouse with occasional office use is categorised as domestic and is exempt until replaced, whereas buildings converted into holiday lets are considered as business and therefore must comply.

The OSR apply to the storage of any oil on farms including the storage of oil used for heating and/or power on premises as defined by the Agriculture Act 1947, therefore red diesel tanks must comply with the regulations.  Oil in use within farm machinery is exempt.

Oil stored within a building must also comply with the regulations. However, in some cases, such buildings could serve as its own secondary containment (e.g. impermeable walls and sleeping policemen for preventing losses).

For one tank, mobile bowser or Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC), the secondary containment must be able to hold 110% of the volume that the container can hold and be able to withstand a total failure of the full tank.

Further information is available here on the NRW website.  Please contact your local FUW office for any further assistance.