Draft Brexit legislation for farming and equine sectors

Despite, or should I say in spite, of the Brexit issues that have been dominating the media the draft Common Agricultural Policy (Direct Payments to Farmers) and (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 was laid in draft for sifting on 29th November 2018 and would in all circumstances come into force upon exit day.  The purpose of this is to ensure that after leaving the EU, regulation on direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can continue to operate effectively in the UK.

Its purpose is to ensure that farmers and land managers are still able to receive direct payments from the UK government and the devolved administration.

The regulations are noted as being made under powers set out in Section 8 (1) and paragraph 21 of Schedule 7 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 to address failures of retained EU Law to operate effectively after Brexit.

Similar amendments have been laid in draft in respect of Environmental Land Management Schemes.

In short legislation which preserves the status quo on a legal footing are being seen at this time and indeed will continue to be seen up to and including exit date.

Specifically in respect of equine issues the Equine Identification (England) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2017 have similarly been laid.  Again these are all regulations coming through to ensure that equines continue to be identified both by way of single lifetime document and central equine data base so ensuring standards of biodiversity, equine movement and have the safety maintained.

As such despite the headline issues which we are being tortured with is interesting to note that the agricultural sector is being looked at and indeed decisions are being taken in respect of a post Brexit future.