Greeny News

Commons notifies the European Commission plans to impose a "one size fits all" regime across continents

proposed new EU rules on agriculture to be more "green" will reduce food production, increase bureaucracy and may even harm the environment, a parliamentary report has guard.

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee warned that the plans of the European Commission - due to be implemented in 2014 - are too rigid and impose a "one size fits all "diet farmers from Finland to Sicily.

farmers could lose 30% of direct payments under the common agricultural policy does not comply with the requirements of three new "green" products.

The report also speculation that the fine could double by any additional sanctions are being considered by the commission.

The party committee supported the ambition of the Commission to make the CAP greener, but stated that differences in local practices of climate, landscape and agriculture should be taken into account .

The committee chair Anne McIntosh said. "In its current form, the Commission's proposals for the green cap on UK farmers, consumers and our fields

"They reduce food security by taking land out of production and is likely to harm the environment.

"It's silly to think that farmers in Finland to Sicily should be linked to the same narrow prescriptive rules. One size fits all regulation can not work the full range of environments found in Europe.

"To enhance biodiversity and protect the environment for EU farmers must be able to manage their landscapes based farming methods and environmental concerns. Commission approach could damage the environment and agriculture. "

Under the proposals, farmers are forced to comply with new European rules for the diversity of cultures and permanent grassland conservation, and the cancellation of 7% of their land as fallow zones ecological interest.

The Committee calls on the EU to put in place the high level objectives for the CAP to give Member States the option of applying adequate protection of the environment to local conditions.
"Our report highlights the enormous advantage that agri-environment schemes in the UK" gave food production biodiversity and on the ground, "said McIntosh.

European

Guardian