This article is from page 38 of the 2007-11-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
THE Minister for Agriculture, Fish- eries and Food, Mary Coughlan said now is the time to pursue reducing the administrative burden on farm- ers. The EU Commission published its communication on preparation for the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy this week. Following the publication Minister
Coughlan said, “I anticipate detailed and intensive negotiations on the Health Check over the next twelve months or so.”
The Health Check of the CAP aris- es from planned reviews of the milk quota regime and the operation of the Single Payment Scheme.
Minister Coughlan said this was an ideal opportunity to pursue her ob- jective of reducing the administrative
burden on farmers by simplifying in a genuine and practical manner the requirements of Single Payment. She also recalled that Commission- er Fischer Boel has frequently stated that the Health Check is not intended to fundamentally change the CAP. “I strongly agree with this point,” she said. “I firmly believe that farm- ers need a period of policy stability to adapt to the new decoupled pay-
ments regime.”
The Minister announced that she would establish a consultative com- mittee to advise her on the health check. This group will work in par- UOC M A 100MM eComOrOyeeULe-1O Romeo nelt1OMr-0 Ee ready announced on dairy quotas.
It will include all the main industry stakeholders with an interest in the issues encompassed by the Health Check.