Plaid Cymru to commission independent review to cut farming red tape in first 100 days of government
Today, Plaid Cymru has committed to commission an independent review into the bureaucratic burden on the farming sector within the first 100 days of a Plaid Cymru Government.
Plaid Cymru’s Rural Affairs spokesperson, Llyr Gruffydd called for the review when speaking ahead of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show.
The last major assessment was the ‘Working Smarter Review’ which published its results in 2012. It laid out 76 recommendations on how to reduce red tape on the sector. Since then, Brexit, new trade deals, increased regulations on bovine Tb, water quality (NVZs), bluetongue movement restrictions, and the new proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), means it’s timely to revisit the cumulative burden of the increased regulation placed upon the sector.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Rural Affairs went on to explain Plaid Cymru’s expectations for the upcoming Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).
This comes as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, is expected to publish the latest developments on Tuesday (15th July).
Mr Gruffydd says the SFS must be ‘workable for farmers’ or risk the scheme not delivering for ‘farming or the environment’. This includes providing longer-term funding certainty through a multi-annual funding commitment, which Plaid Cymru has pledged to deliver if it forms the next Welsh Government in 2026.
Plaid Cymru Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary, Llyr Gruffydd MS, said:
“The increased burden of bureaucracy and red tape on farming businesses has not been reviewed for over a decade. Much has changed since then with increased burdens introduced on bTB, NVZ regulations, new proposals on the Sustainable Farming Scheme and bluetongue movement restrictions to name but a few. Whilst much focus has been on individual schemes and regulations, the cumulative impact has not been properly considered.
“That is why, in the first 100 days of a Plaid Cymru Government, we will commission an independent review of the cumulative bureaucratic burden on the agriculture sector in Wales.
On the long anticipated new Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals Mr Gruffydd said:
“Any scheme that is introduced by the Welsh Government must be workable for farmers - otherwise it will not deliver both for farming or the environment. Plaid Cymru has previously called for a reduction in the number of Universal Actions within the scheme, greater flexibility on tree planting including scrapping the 10% target, and more emphasis on the social value of farming as a public good.
“We also previously secured a longer transitional period between the BPS and the SFS and we would urge the Government to avoid any kind of funding cliff edge as we move from one system to the other.
“We also hope that the Cabinet Secretary will commit to long-term funding for the scheme. The sector cannot operate on a 12 month funding cycle. Longer-term certainty is needed in order to plan, invest and grow. Funding stability is essential to support productivity and efficiency gains both for food production and for nature.
“I can therefore announce that a Plaid Cymru Government would provide a multi-annual funding commitment if we form the next Government. We will also match the current Government’s budget on the SFS as an absolute minimum.
“I’m also keen to see an updated economic impact assessment on the scheme as part of the wider suite of information provided. It’s only right that everyone understands what the impact of these changes will be on the wider rural economy.
“Plaid Cymru understands and supports our farming communities, and that’s why a Plaid Cymru Government in 2026 would pull out all the stops to help the sector thrive and grow.”