NFU WELCOMES GOVERNMENT AND EU SPEED TO HELP
FARMERS IN CRISIS
The NFU welcomed today's announcement by Minister
of Agriculture Nick Brown that he has obtained agreement from Agriculture
Commissioner Franz Fischler that the European Commission will pay agrimoney
compensation early to British livestock farmers during the foot & mouth
crisis.
The EU has also agreed that the UK Government can invoke "force
majeure" provisions to pay support payments to livestock farms in foot
& mouth restricted areas without the necessity of prior inspections.
NFU President Ben Gill said "British livestock farmers will appreciate the
speed with which the Minister and Commissioner Fischler have recognised the
current difficulties and have agreed procedures for making payments to farmers.
"British farmers will be reassured to learn that extra vets are being
drafted in from the UK and abroad to help in the crisis."
The Minister also confirmed that the Ministry will be writing to all livestock
farmers from next week to appraise them of developments.
Ben Gill said "Foot & mouth disease has caused extreme stress to every
farmer in the country. Tension has been made worse by a lack of up-to-date
information. I am pleased the Government has responded to our request to write
to all livestock producers to advise them of the situation. We hope this
information will be regularly updated."
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