The NFU has been heavily involved in shaping the regulatory landscape over the years and we have fed into numerous consultations and discussions on the subject based on the feedback from our members. The response to this detailed consultation consolidates our latest position on regulation in terms of the regulatory framework in place in the UK.

The NFU's response recognises the impact regulation has on NFU members and implications it has for them in relation to protecting the environment, human and animal health and the interests of consumers. As a result, we want to see a more certain regulatory environment for members that encourages business growth and investment, as well as investment in research and development, which is vital to the sector meeting profitability and environmental challenges.

For the NFU, the key principle behind good regulation is that it should strike a balance between managing risk and harm from any given activity, economic or otherwise, and maximising the societal and economic benefit of that same activity.

Member briefing

This briefing covers a summary of the key regulatory aspects that were included in the consultation, and that will have an impact on members, particularly as agriculture has probably been more exposed to regulation related law-making over the past four decades than any other sector of the British economy.

This includes creating and implementing the right regulatory framework for farming businesses.

There is discussion on taking a common law approach to regulation, as well as adopting a proportionality principle if mandated that is appropriate with the level of risk being addressed.

The role of regulators in reference to promoting innovation and competition is discussed from a NFU perspective.

Other aspects that are included herein include scrutinising regulation and holding regulators to account, through post implementation reviews and how regulatory impact assessments can be streamlined.

There is also a part on regulatory offsetting and a final further discussion from the NFU on how we are supportive of regulatory systems that reward good practice, with verified adherence to given farm assured standards leading to less frequent statutory inspection.

The consultation ran from 22 July 2021 to 1 October 2021.

Consultation documents are available here.