The union has this week, launched a survey to gather evidence from across the country to support its work inputting into the Independent Review of red tape that was announced in June by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd MS and which is being led by Brecknockshire farmer and former NFU Cymru President, John Davies.
NFU Cymru Deputy President Paul Williams said: “An independent review of the regulatory burden affecting Welsh farming businesses was a key ask within NFU Cymru's Senedd Election manifesto, we were therefore pleased to see that Plaid Cymru, in their own manifesto, saw this as a key action to implement within their first 100 days in government.
“We are pleased that John Davies has hit the ground running with the review, announcing an early action at the Royal Welsh Show, that the requirements of the Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC) in Universal Action 12 of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) will be aligned with the requirements that already exist within Farm Assurance on animal health and welfare. A move that reduces the duplication that existed between the SFS and Farm Assurance.
“We are also glad to see that John has spent the summer meeting farmers at county shows, livestock markets and other events throughout Wales."
The survey provides an opportunity
Our survey is designed to complement the work that John is already undertaking and to provide an opportunity for every farming business to share their own experiences of how regulation impacts their day-to-day work.
“We want to understand which requirements place the greatest administrative burden on farm businesses, where farmers believe that unnecessary complexity or duplication exists and what changes could make regulation more practical and therefore effective on farm.
“NFU Cymru is clear that regulation has an essential role to play in underpinning high standards on farm, ensuring that the consumer can have the utmost confidence in the food that we are proud to produce, but our position remains that regulation must be proportionate, workable and joined-up.
Understand why the regulation is required
We must get to a situation where farmers understand why the regulation is required and what it is set out to achieve, that they feel comfortable and able to complete and maintain the records and applications necessary and applicable to their business, and they do not live in fear of what might happen when the inspector may next call on their farm.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a more streamlined and effective regulatory regime in Wales, one that can be focussed on delivering positive outcomes for food, nature, climate and communities rather than adding unnecessary cost and bureaucracy to family farms.
“This survey will help to strengthen NFU Cymru’s contribution to the review, helping to ensure our input is shaped on the real-world experiences of family farming businesses across all sectors and all areas of Wales.
The survey not only provides an opportunity to highlight areas of concern but also to suggest solutions to deliver a more streamlined and effective regulatory framework in Wales.”
The survey can be accessed on the NFU Cymru website and will remain open until 2 October 2026.
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