The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed recognition by the Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, that national level BVD control in Wales will require a compulsory programme but stresses that moves towards a legislative approach must be expedited or current gains will be lost.

The need for a legislative approach to BVD control was outlined in a written statement by the Welsh Government on the 31st January.

The FUW welcomes recognition by the Minister that national coordination is required for widespread BVD eradication.  However, the FUW has been clear from the start of the voluntary RDP funded Gwaredu BVD programme that any gains made during the voluntary phase could be lost if there is a significant gap between the end of the voluntary programme and the onset of legislation.

A recent consultation which would see mandatory CCTV in Welsh slaughterhouses was generally supported by members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW).  Members responding to the consultation hoped that mandatory CCTV would help provide greater consumer confidence in the high animal health and welfare standards used in Welsh livestock production. 

Whilst members agreed with the presence of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, they were clear that the industry must not be forced into bearing the costs of a complex system that is overly bureaucratic, officious and rigid. The current supply chain can function to adversely affect primary producers and producers can often become responsible for enduring any additional cost increases which have occurred further up the supply chain.

Responding to the recent Welsh Government consultation, the FUW further stressed that excessive costs risk adversely penalising smaller and medium sized enterprises. 

Resolution approved by EU Parliament for a long-term EU fertiliser strategy 

In a resolution approved in February, the EU Parliament has urged the EU Commission to take action to bring down prices and increase the EU’s strategic autonomy in fertilisers. 

Following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine the prices of fertilisers and energy increased sharply with prices for nitrogen fertilisers increasing by 149%, and the largest fertiliser manufactures registering record profits.

Expression of interest window dates February 2023