EU Soils Directive On Hold

Written by Mark O'Brien

A blocking minority of UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Malta has stopped any progress on proposals on the EU soils directive for the moment. Progress on the directive was discussed in council last week but with the amount of opposition involved it is almost certain that the proposals will remain delayed. The blocking started in December 2007 when five countries were unable to support a compromise.

Soils in both the UK and across the EU are currently protected by many laws and regulations which include cross-compliance conditions under the Single Payment Scheme requiring farmers and growers to adhere to certain soil standards while keeping their land in good agricultural and environmental condition. The current proposals will now remain on hold it seems until the Spanish take the EU Presidency in 2010.

"The NFU and our European Counterparts COPA-COGECA have always held very serious concerns about the proposals and we strongly disagree that there is a need for additional legislation in this area. Soils in the UK, and across the EU, are already protected by a range of laws and regulations. Additional legislation simply goes against everything the EU is trying to achieve under its Better Regulation and Common Agricultural Policy Simplification. What farmers don't need is another piece of red tape." NFU Spokesperson.

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