Key Facts

• New clause 4 proposes that imported agricultural goods post-IP completion day must adhere to high animal welfare, environmental, and food safety standards.
• Clause 7 would mandate international trade agreements include an affirmation of the SPS Agreement and prohibit imports below UK standards for production.
• The clauses aim to protect domestic food supply quality by ensuring imported products meet stringent standards.
• New clause 31 prohibits selling or supplying an animal treated for surface contamination removal using a substance other than potable water.
• New clause 32 imposes stocking density limits of up to 39 kilograms per square meter for chickens.
• The keeper must maintain detailed documentation including ventilation and temperature control systems.
• New schedule 1 lists prohibited substances under different classes.
• New clause 26 addresses the future management of smallholdings estates.
• Local authorities must submit proposals within eighteen months of Part 1 commencement.
• Proposals must align with specified opportunities such as farming, education, public access, climate change mitigation, innovative food production techniques, and sustainable land management practices.
• County farms are an undervalued national asset.
• The size of England’s county farm estate fell by more than 15,000 acres between 2010 and 2018 with 58% sold between 2016 and 2018.
• Cambridgeshire County Council's estate generates over £4 million annually and supports new tenants aged an average of 30 years old.
• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will offer funding to councils who want to invest in creating new opportunities for new entrant farmers.
• County farms have halved in acreage over the past 40 years.
• Cambridgeshire’s county farms generate a sustainable income exceeding £4 million annually.
• Herefordshire has experienced an 89% decline in its county farm estate.
• The new clause would require Scottish Ministers' consent for certain functions under the Secretary of State.
• GIs are considered a reserved matter, which means they fall under UK Government jurisdiction.
• A working-level arrangement was agreed upon on October 4th last year to ensure devolved Administrations' inclusion in GI scheme development and assessment.
• New Clause 7 would prohibit importation into the UK of agricultural and food products if their relevant standards are lower than those in the UK.
• The new clause ensures the inclusion of an affirmation of the UK's rights and obligations under the SPS Agreement.
• New Clause 9 proposes establishing a regulatory framework for managing land or water to protect or improve the environment, public access to countryside, cultural heritage, climate change adaptation, environmental hazards, livestock health, plant conservation, soil quality.
• New Clause 10 would ban the import of foie gras into the UK.
• The UK imports around 200 tonnes of foie gras annually from mainland Europe.
• New Clause 11 would require the Food Standards Agency to establish a whistleblowing method for reporting animal welfare violations in abattoirs.
• New clause 14 proposes that the Secretary of State must promote the conduct of research into the impact on animal welfare of highly intensive livestock farming practices in England.
• The aim is to improve understanding and potentially improve standards for animal welfare.
• New clause requires the Secretary of State to conduct a review of economic, environmental and wildlife impacts of driven grouse shooting.
• The clause also mandates consulting on regulations for grouse moor management.
• A summary of responses to the consultation must be published.
• Future policy statement must be released within three months after the consultation closes.
• The new clauses aim to address issues related to biodiversity, uplands, rural economy, and wildlife welfare.
• Robert Goodwill highlights the importance of managed moorland for maintaining heather and preventing reforestation.
• Controlled burning is used to manage the age structure of heather and support diverse wildlife.
• The new clause aims to ensure clarity and certainty for Scottish farmers regarding post-Brexit agricultural funding.
• It seeks to guarantee that funds made available will be equivalent to those provided under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in the year prior to IP completion day.
• Deidre Brock moves that clause 17 be read a Second time.
• The Scottish Government will receive an extra £160 million over two years in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
• Treasury colleagues lead discussions with Finance Ministers in the devolved Administrations on funding matters.
• In 2017, 474,000 people were working in agriculture across the UK.
• Currently, only 0.6% of those who harvest crops are British.
• The Office for National Statistics reports that 99% of seasonal agricultural workers come from EU countries.
• In 2012, the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board resulted in a loss of £140 million in wages, £97.8 million in annual leave, and £8.7 million in sick pay for workers.
• New clause 20 aims to monitor pesticide use and effects.
• It mandates conducting research into alternative pest control methods and promoting their take-up.
• The clause requires consultation on a target to reduce pesticide usage.
• New Clause 21 would end licences granted to kill badgers for preventing bovine tuberculosis spread.
• The clause was read the First time but needs approval by reading it a Second time.
• Daniel Zeichner criticises the delay in Government response since 2018 on this issue.
• Bovine TB costs the Government about £100 million a year and industry around £50 million annually.
• The Godfray report indicates that infected badgers pose a threat to local cattle herds.
• Intensive culling will be enabled in most areas where it has served the greatest impact.
• New measures for badger vaccination combined with biosecurity are planned as an exit strategy from intensive culling.
• The Secretary of State must open a consultation within one calendar month after the Act receives Royal Assent.
• The consultation will seek views on whether an existing agency or a new body should administer financial assistance and other functions under the Bill's provisions.
• The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will continue to administer direct payments and countryside stewardship payments in the short term.
• The new clause seeks to establish an agriculture co-ordination council.
• The UK Government has been collaborating closely with devolved Administrations on a UK-wide framework over the past two and a half years.
• The framework aims to cover policy areas such as agricultural support spending, crisis measures, marketing standards, cross-border farms, and data collection and sharing.
• More than 140,000 British farmers are members and co-owners of over 400 agriculture and farmer co-operatives.
• The new clause would lock into the Bill a requirement for the Secretary of State to promote agricultural co-operatives through financial assistance.
• The Secretary of State must publish greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for specific areas within six months of Royal Assent.
• The Agriculture Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent years to address climate change.
• Only 30% of direct payments are currently secured through meeting greening requirements.
• The National Farmers Union aims for net zero by 2040, while the MP suggests a more ambitious target aligning with eliminating substantial greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
• Sir David Amess thanked all hon. Members, Hansard, officials, Doorkeepers, and particularly praised the Clerks for their support.
• He mentioned an incident where one Doorkeeper had to deal with a key breaking while locking the door.
• The statement concluded with the Bill being reported.