EU delays new deforestation import regulations
On October 3, the European Commission said it would delay the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implementation for a year until December 30th 2025 to support a smooth implementation from the start.
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was due to come into effect at the end of the year and requires a range of agricultural commodities entering the 27-country bloc to be accompanied by proof they are not a product of land cleared of trees in the last four years.
The European Commission has also responded to calls for differing levels of compliance by publishing a methodology for classifying countries as either low, standard or high risk.
Bluetongue vaccine available to farmers in England
A general license is now available for the bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine across the whole of England. All livestock keepers in England can use any of the permitted BTV-3 vaccines without applying for a specific licence.
Wales, nor Scotland and Northern Ireland, have not yet licensed the use of BTV-3 vaccines, but they are currently monitoring its use.
The BTV-3 vaccines reduce rather than prevent the BTV virus in the blood. For this reason, all animal movement regulations and trade restrictions still apply for vaccinated animals.
UK beef price higher than ever before
The deadweight price of beef in England and Wales has risen above £5 per kilogram for the first time ever. The £5 per kilogram threshold was passed in September, with prices still rising in October. The price is now around 50 pence per kilogram higher than it was a year earlier.
Hybu Cig Cymru suggests that the higher prices are a result of reduced supply, together with strong domestic demand.
Beef exports are performing well, with data recently released for the first half of 2024 revealing an 11 per cent increase in the quantities of fresh and frozen beef exported from the UK.