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Agriculture after Brexit
What's the issue?
Leaving the EU means leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). CAP is the EU policy that provides financial support to farmers. Brexit therefore provides an opportunity to develop a new system to support a sustainable, productive and innovative food industry which enjoys the confidence of customers at home and abroad.
As agriculture policy is devolved, different approaches have been developed in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We have been engaging with all four governments across the UK to include measures which support improved animal health and animal welfare outcomes.
Animal health and welfare is interwoven with wider social, economic, and environmental outcomes. Animal health and welfare should be considered alongside schemes to increase economic or environmental sustainability because these outcomes support each other. A renewed focus on health and welfare on farm provides vets with an exciting opportunity to renew their relationships with clients and work together to improve outcomes.
In England, the first stage of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway has launched. Farmers can register their interest for a free animal health and welfare review provided by their own vet. Vets can watch a webinar which explains the review.
From summer 2023 in Scotland, livestock keepers will be able to claim a new £250 payment for specific interventions which will lead to improvements in the health and welfare of Scotland’s sheep and cattle.
We will update members as details of schemes are announced in Wales and Northern Ireland.
What's our view?
Vets play a crucial role from the farm-gate through to trade certification and border checks, so it’s vital that the UK governments use veterinary expertise in the development and delivery of any new policy and plans.
Our vision for post-Brexit agriculture policy puts animal health and welfare support as public goods at its centre. We are calling for public money to be used ambitiously, maximising its impact and incentivising innovation.
Farming support should take into account cross-government priorities. An effective system will benefit other government policies including post-Brexit trade policy, the industrial strategy, and the strategy to tackle antibiotic resistance (AMR).
Veterinary vision for post Brexit agricultural policy
Get involved
- Contact our policy team for more information.