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Brexit deal provides certainty, Gove to tell farmers | Brexit deal provides certainty, Gove to tell farmers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Theresa May's Brexit deal gives farmers certainty about the future, Environment Secretary Michael Gove will say. | Theresa May's Brexit deal gives farmers certainty about the future, Environment Secretary Michael Gove will say. |
He will tell the Oxford Farming Conference the PM's agreement, to be voted on by MPs later this month, will ensure a smooth transition period for agriculture after the UK leaves the EU. | |
The National Farmers Union said leaving the EU without a deal in March would be "catastrophic" for the industry. | |
But it said more clarity was needed on protecting food standards after Brexit. | |
And campaigners are calling on Mr Gove to set up an independent regulator to ensure minimum standards to protect water, soil, wildlife and animal welfare are maintained. | |
The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March, with MPs due to vote in the Commons in mid-January on the prime minister's withdrawal bill. | The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March, with MPs due to vote in the Commons in mid-January on the prime minister's withdrawal bill. |
Urging MPs to support the prime minister's deal, Mr Gove will acknowledge it "isn't perfect". | Urging MPs to support the prime minister's deal, Mr Gove will acknowledge it "isn't perfect". |
But he will highlight the fact that it ensures that farmers' current access to the EU is unaffected during the 21-month transition period that will take effect if the deal is approved. | But he will highlight the fact that it ensures that farmers' current access to the EU is unaffected during the 21-month transition period that will take effect if the deal is approved. |
Mr Gove will also say he believes the deal will allow UK exporters to maintain continuous tariff-free and quota-free access to EU markets. | Mr Gove will also say he believes the deal will allow UK exporters to maintain continuous tariff-free and quota-free access to EU markets. |
He will add: "It allows us largely to diverge from EU regulation after the transition, to leave the Common Agricultural Policy and end all mandatory payments to the EU". | |
In his speech, the environment secretary will also pledge investment in robotics, artificial intelligence and other innovation, to boost yields. | |
He will promise to "continue to demonstrate the case for, and put in place the policies that underpin, long-term investment in British agriculture and the rural economy". | |
He will say: "A week can be a long time in politics, but farming requires the patience and foresight to see beyond the immediate and scan the far horizon. | |
"It is a quintessentially long-term business, one that benefits from as much certainty as possible about the future." | |
The government has guaranteed to pay subsidies to farmers at current EU levels until 2022. | The government has guaranteed to pay subsidies to farmers at current EU levels until 2022. |
After that there will be a "transitional period" in England, with an increasing link between funds and maintaining "public goods", such as access to the countryside and planting meadows. | After that there will be a "transitional period" in England, with an increasing link between funds and maintaining "public goods", such as access to the countryside and planting meadows. |
Food standards | Food standards |
The National Farmers Union has long highlighted fears about the potential disruption of Brexit, and delays at borders if a deal is not reached. | The National Farmers Union has long highlighted fears about the potential disruption of Brexit, and delays at borders if a deal is not reached. |
It is also calling for legislation to ensure the same standards are applied to imported food as home-grown produce, after Brexit. | It is also calling for legislation to ensure the same standards are applied to imported food as home-grown produce, after Brexit. |
"We have always said a no deal would be catastrophic for our industry," the NFU's president Minette Batters said. | |
"We absolutely need an orderly departure from the EU and that's primarily because a lot of our input, 90% of our animal medicines and vaccines, chemicals and fertilizers are produced in the EU. | |
"We don't make those kind of things in the UK any more." | |
The Nature Friendly Farming Network is warning that long-term food security will be at risk unless "ambitious" guidelines for the industry are set out in the Agriculture Bill, which outlines the policy for the industry after Brexit. | The Nature Friendly Farming Network is warning that long-term food security will be at risk unless "ambitious" guidelines for the industry are set out in the Agriculture Bill, which outlines the policy for the industry after Brexit. |
"We can only guarantee long term food security by protecting and managing the natural assets which enable food production," said its chairman Martin Lines. | |
"If the government does not amend the Bill to include minimum standards - and put a stop to the environmental degradation caused by intensive farming - British farmers will be in danger of losing their livelihoods." |