RM 6

Legislation Committee No 3

Response to the Consultation on the Proposed Red Meat Industry (Wales) Measure

National Sheep Association Cymru

NSA Cymru/Wales Region - Response to the Consultation on the Proposed Red Meat Industry (Wales) Measure

Introduction and Background

National Sheep Association Cymru/Wales Region (NSA Cymru/Wales) is pleased to be able to respond to the proposed Red Meat Industry (Wales) Measure. NSA Cymru/Wales represents the majority of sheep producers and sheep production through a combination of individual memberships and affiliated breed societies. It is the only specialist organisation speaking for the interests of sheep producers throughout Wales and as such is uniquely placed to give a clear, concise and uncompromised perspective on how any given issue will affect the sheep industry.

This particular issue is of considerable interest to NSA Cymru/Wales as an organisation as well as to its individual producer members, the vast majority of whom are levy payers and all of whom have a vested interest in ensuring that quality sheep meat from farms in the principality is produced to a high standard.  This response has been based upon Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers Ltd response (WLBP).  

1. Is there a need for legislation to be made to develop and promote the Welsh red meat industry and if so why?

NSA Cymru/Wales supports this measure and welcomes the opportunity that Welsh Ministers have to be responsible for the promotion of the Welsh red meat industry through levy collection.  Although in an ideal world farmers would contribute funding voluntary to promote and market the red meat we produce.

2. Are the sections of the proposed measure appropriate in terms of making statutory provision through a legislative framework for the development and promotion of the Welsh red meat industry? If not, how does the proposed measure need to change?

NSA Cymru/Wales considers that the measure is appropriate in terms of its statutory provisions for the development and promotion of the red meat industry on Wales. NSA Cymru/Wales however, strongly believes that the rate of the levies paid by the industry should not be changed without the views of the industry being sought through a wide consultation process.

3. How will the proposed measure change what organisations do currently, and what impact will such changes have if any?

NSA Cymru/Wales believes that this measure will result in the abolition of the Welsh Levy Board as the responsibility and financial probity of the Welsh levy funds will be conferred to Welsh Ministers.  If this is the case and Ministers delegate their authority over the levy to others it is imperative that the same robust governance and financial probity protocols continue to underpin such a delegation.

4. What are the potential barriers to implementing the proposed measure (if any) and does the proposed measure take account of them?

NSA Cymru/Wales does not envisage any barriers to the implementation of the measure.

5. What are your views on the intended effects of this legislation in producing a regulatory framework that is sufficiently flexible, such that it would be possible; to change the way the red meat levy is determined and collected?

NSA Cymru/Wales Region is very concerned that the Welsh red meat levies will be derived from animals slaughtered in Wales and not from animals reared in Wales. All the benefits of having an independent Welsh red meat measure as proposed in this consultation could be compromised by this anomaly. It is evident that, currently, the numbers of livestock reared in Wales exceeds the numbers slaughtered in Wales, which is due to the significant cross border trade between Wales and the rest of the UK. This would be especially evident in the sheep sector.

If something was to happen to cause the closure of some of the slaughter plants in Wales, then the amount of levy collected would be seriously affected as these animals would be slaughtered across the border and the levy would then be used to promote English and Scottish brands.

6. What impacts could the proposed measure have on cross-border trade in the red meat sector?

As referred to above, the cross border trade in livestock slaughter could have a significant effect on the Welsh red meat levy.

7. What are the financial implications of the proposed measure for organizations, if any?

No change from the present situation can be foreseen.

8. Are there any other comments you wish to make about the specific sections of the proposed measure?

NSA Cymru/Wales Region totally supports this measure.