Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been called on to clarify the regulatory measures that will be imposed by the Farm to Fork strategy.
The strategy is a central component of the European Green Deal and was due to be published on March 27th. It is now expected to be published in the coming days.
The Farm to Fork strategy aims to ‘empower consumers’ to make better food choices by imposing new regulations on farmers to make their farming systems more environmentally friendly.
Adverse impacts
Independent TD for Laois-Offaly, Carol Nolan, has said that there is still much uncertainty about the potential adverse impact these regulations will have on Irish farms.
“I think there is a lot of concern around how the new conditions and restrictions, that are a core part of the strategy are going to be implemented. This is particularly true with respect to reduction in fertiliser use and the uses of antimicrobials for example.”
“In a statement they released in March, it even recognised that the strategy would ‘impose new rules and restrictions on farmers across Europe, who are currently coping with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and have to ensure food production in Europe at the same time’.”
Deputy Nolan has urged the Minister of Agriculture to address these concerns by clarifying what impact they will have on the Irish farmer.
“Farmers and food suppliers here in Ireland also need to know that a robust Regulatory Impact Analysis has been conducted on the Farm to Fork Strategy and that we are not just rushing down the road of green politics without sufficient regard to how such policies may damage rather than sustain Irish agriculture in a post-COVID-19 world,” Nolan concluded.
