Archived press release

Farming Review Won't Call For Radical Review in Key Areas

1 October 2001

The Government's Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food does "not intend torecommend any radical change" on the key areas of CAP reform and international tradeliberalisation its chair, Sir Don Curry, has told Friends of the Earth .

The admission seriously weakens the role of the Commission. The reform of CAP, and whatreplaces it, will have major impacts on the way the countryside is managed and how food isproduced. Trade liberalisation may make it more difficult to protect consumers and farmers frompractices undesired or unsuitable to the UK such as the use of hormones in farm animals andGM crops.

Sir Don was responding to a letter from FOE raising concerns about the narrow terms of theCommission's remit, given the state of crisis in the UK's food and farming sector. FOE alsoraised concerns about the short time period in which the Commission had been asked to reportto the Cabinet Office and DEFRA, and pointed out that the Government guidelines specify a12 week period for public consultation. The Commission only has slightly longer to both consultand report (by 31st December). FOE is worried that the Commission's short timetable will leadto important areas, such as food safety and animal welfare, being side-lined.

In his reply to FOE, Sir Don reveals that the haste in which the Commission is being asked toreport is because "the Comprehensive Spending Review and CAP reform discussions will needto draw on our work". Sir Don also admits the the Commission will need to "work hard to meetour deadlines".

Liana Stupples, Policy and Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth said
"The Government Commission investigating the future of British farming has been placedin a policy straight-jacket and won't be able to recommend the type of radical action thatis so desperately needed to safeguard the future for both industry and the environment.CAP reform and international trade liberalisation are key issues, but the Government haseffectively kept them off the Commission's agenda. Despite its grand title theCommission on the Future of Farming and Food will deliver very little unless it is givenmore scope.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust