Overview

This Agriculture Bill aims to reshape UK agricultural policy post-Brexit. It introduces new financial assistance powers for farmers and other land managers, modifies existing EU agricultural legislation, establishes new data collection and sharing requirements within agri-food supply chains, and introduces provisions to ensure fair dealing within the agricultural supply chain.

Description

The bill is structured into several key parts. Part 1 grants the Secretary of State new powers to provide financial assistance for various purposes, including environmental protection, improving productivity and supporting rural development. Part 2 addresses financial support after Brexit, outlining a seven-year transition period for direct payments to farmers, with provisions for phasing these out and potentially introducing delinked payments. It also includes powers to modify legislation related to rural development and aid for fruit and vegetable producer organizations. Part 3 establishes requirements for data sharing and collection within the agri-food supply chain. Part 4 allows for government intervention in agricultural markets during exceptional conditions. Part 5 deals with marketing standards and carcass classification. Part 6 details the recognition of producer organisations and interbranch organisations, potentially granting them exemptions from competition law, alongside measures to promote fairness in the supply chain. Part 7 focuses on regulations to ensure compliance with the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. Part 8 governs payments between red meat levy bodies in Great Britain. Part 9 covers specific provisions for Wales and Northern Ireland. Finally, Part 10 contains the Act’s final provisions, including regulations, interpretations, and commencement dates.

Government Spending

The bill authorises new expenditure for several agricultural and other purposes. This includes providing financial assistance under section 1 and 20 (amount unspecified), making delinked payments (amount unspecified), operating public market intervention mechanisms (amount unspecified), and covering administrative expenses. The exact financial implications remain undefined in the bill’s text.

Groups Affected

• Farmers: Potentially affected by changes to direct payments, new financial assistance schemes, data sharing requirements, and provisions on fair dealing.
• Land managers: May benefit from new financial assistance for environmental protection and land management practices.
• Businesses in the agri-food supply chain: Subject to new data collection and sharing requirements and may be impacted by changes to market regulation.
• Producer and interbranch organisations: Could benefit from potential competition law exemptions.
• Consumers: Indirectly impacted by changes in agricultural practices and market conditions.
• Government agencies and devolved administrations: Responsible for implementing and enforcing various provisions of the bill.

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