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Warwickshire Rural Hub
Legislation & Regulation
Ban on EU imports of meat and dairy products for personal use
From Saturday 12 April travellers entering the UK from EU countries are no longer permitted to bring in cattle, sheep, goat and pig meat, as well as dairy products, for personal use. This ban has been put in place to protect the health of British livestock, the security of farmers, and the UK’s food security. Whilst Foot and Mouth Disease poses no risk to humans and there are no cases in the UK, it is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals, and the outbreak on the continent presents a significant risk to farm businesses and livestock.
Hedge management legislation – no cutting period starts on 1 March
New hedgerow legislation was introduced on 23 May 2024, following a consultation with landowners by Defra. This year will be the first year of the full no cutting window for hedgerows in England. The no cutting period begins on 1 March and concludes on 31 August. Anyone who is found to have trimmed their hedges within this period could be liable for civil sanctions or variable monetary penalties under The Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024. There are some exceptions to the rule. Read the full hedge management rules on this page of the Defra website.
Rules for farmers post cross compliance from 2024 onwards
2023 is the final year of Cross Compliance and all rules must be followed by farmers receiving a single farm payment until 31 December of this year. From 1 January 2024
Cross Compliance ends as a sanction mechanism and will not apply to delinked payments. However, most cross compliance standards will continue to apply to farm activities as they are enshrined in other English laws. Defra has established a Farm Regulation Hub which lists all of the legal requirements for farmers and land managers. You can access the Hub on this page.
Defra is also looking at ways to fill the gaps in Cross Compliance rules which are not covered by current laws together with better ways of using existing enforcement tools. They have also run recent consultations on how to protect and manage hedgerows and improve livestock traceability.
Read the rules and regulations for farmers and land managers all on one page
Following feedback, Defra has established a new page on its website which lists all of the rules and regulations for farmers and land managers in one place. The rules are also arranged in a more intuitive way, by the activities that you undertake. Defra is keen for further feedback on the new page, so please try and send them your thoughts. Access the new page here.
RPA moves towards partnership approach for visits
The Rural Payments Agency has introduced a more supportive, partnership-based approach to inspections, moving away from the penalty-based system under the EU, to farmer-focused visits for schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship. To reflect this change, inspections are now referred to as visits. Inspectors are now referred to as Field Officers and the Inspectorate is known as the Regulatory and Advice Service. As part of this supportive approach, a new visit record checklist has been introduced which will help inform farmers of their responsibilities.
Reminder on water abstraction licences
If your current water abstraction licence is due to expire, and you want to continue to abstract, you need to apply for a new licence at least 3 months before the existing licence expires. For more information on applying for a water abstraction licence, please visit this website.
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Warwickshire Rural Hub CIC Directors
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Amy Brant
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Meehal Grint, Kings Seeds
Tom Newbery, Highfield Farm
Louis Phipps, Bragborough Estate
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