EU backs away from compulsory environmental liability insurance
UK - Compulsory environmental liability insurance for farmers - which could have crippled intensive livestock farmers - will not now be included in Europe's proposed Environmental Liability legislation.
18 June 2003
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National
Pig Association  THE VOICE OF THE UK PIG INDUSTRY NPA is active on members' behalf in Brussels & White-hall, and with pro-cessors, supermarkets & caterers – fighting for the growth and pros-perity of the UK pig industry. |
But NFU remain concerned about the proposed legislation.
If farmers are to be held accountable for damage to biodiversity, what will be the definition of biodoiversity? And what defences will be available to farmers?
Europe's proposals will now return to the European Parliament for a second reading in autumn, before returning to the Environment Council early 2004.
NFU president Ben Gill said: "We are pleased that the EU has decided to look pragmatically at environmental liability, particularly in the form of compulsory environmental liability insurance, which would place yet another layer of bureaucracy on beleaguered British farmers.
"Clearly we still have concerns over the definitions of biodiversity and the exemptions of liability.
This is something we will be taking up with the government to ensure that our industry's views are expressed at the second reading in the Environment Council."
Source: National Pig Association - By Digby Scott - 17th June 2003
