Government departments have published their annual simplification plans, detailing their contributions to the ongoing administrative burden reduction programme.
In 2005 Government departments agreed to reduce the administrative burden resulting from their regulations on private business by 25% by May 2010. Defra's fourth annual simplification plan which was published in December 2009 shows they have so far delivered 16% of their target against their baseline, but are only forecast to deliver 20% by May 2010.
Defra has identified changes to the Single Payment Scheme, Cattle Identification Order 2007, and cross compliance handbook as some of the major savings for agricultural businesses.
The NFU are naturally disappointed that Defra is not forecast to reach its target and feel that any simplification measures identified have to ultimately benefit those on the ground.
The full report can be read on Defra's website.
An NFU briefing on the plan is available on the right hand side