The consultation on the European Commissions’ legislative proposals on the CAP Health Check opened on 25 June and will close on Friday 5 September 2008.
Launching the consultation, the Minister said: “Although the Health Check is not being considered as a major reform of the CAP, the proposals from the EU Commission cover a number of significant areas, such as simplification of the Single Farm Payment Scheme, modulation, abolition of set-aside and the phasing out of milk quotas. It also proposes options to make changes to the model of decoupling.”
The Minister continued: “It is essential that we put forward the strongest case possible to the Commission to protect our local agri-food interests when the proposals are finalised. Therefore, I am very keen to hear the views of stakeholders on these proposals as we prepare for the EU negotiations which will take place later in the year. I would strongly encourage stakeholders to make their opinions known to my Department over the summer months.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The EU Commission published legislative proposals to reform the Common Agricultural Policy on 20 May 2008. The proposals are contained in Commission communication COM(2008) 306/4 and are commonly referred to as the CAP Health Check.
2. The consultation documents are available on the DARD website
3. Responses to this consultation should be sent to:
Joe O’Reilly Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Economics Division Room 810 Dundonald House Belfast BT4 3SB. Or, alternatively by: E-mail: joe.o’reilly@dardni.gov.uk Fax:(028) 905246764. Responses must arrive no later than Friday 5 September 2008.
5. Further information on the CAP Health Check can be found on the EU Commission website
6. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
