‘Business as usual’ for UK farmers post-Brexit vote, EU Commissioner confirms

UK farmers will continue to have full access to European Union subsidy support schemes and the EU internal market until Article 50 talks are completed, a high-ranking EU official has confirmed.

In a letter to National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Meurig Raymond, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan confirmed that the UK “would remain a full member of the EU with all the rights and obligations” this entails until Article 50 discussions are completed.

For the time being farmers will “continue to have full access to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support schemes and to the EU internal market”, he said.

The letter also stressed that UK farmers and paying authorities will have to comply with all existing EU legislation.

“I appreciate Commissioner Hogan taking the time to provide this clarity during these uncertain times,” said Mr Raymond.

“UK farmers welcome the fact it is “business as usual” for the time being. Existing rules - and the penalties that come with failing to comply with them - will continue to apply for the foreseeable future.

“Our focus now is on our leaders at home; we will be clarifying what we need under a new domestic farming policy and then discussing this nationally with our membership as part of the biggest farming consultation for a generation.

“But we appreciate the commissioner’s support and will relay his message to our members loud and clear: business as usual.”