Question reference: S5W-29568
- Asked by: Peter Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 June 2020 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions have been made in relation to tackling diseases on farms in its agricultural policy framework to succeed the Common Agricultural Policy.
Answer
The Scottish Government is currently working with the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group to produce a report on the post CAP framework, expected to commence from 2024. This group was established at the behest of the Scottish Parliament following a debate and vote in January 2019 and they are expected to publish their report in the summer. Until then, it would be premature to speculate on the content of their report.
Regardless of how the group’s report deals with the issue of animal disease prevention it will always be a high priority for the Scottish Government. The bulk of our work in the field is independent of CAP, and our collaborative approach to endemic disease is well demonstrated in policies such as the BVD Eradication Scheme and risk-based bovine TB monitoring. We will continue to work with stakeholders to protect and enhance Scotland’s reputation for the high health standards of our farmed animals.