Farming red tape response a missed opportunity

The Food Ethics Council says that the government's response to Richard Mcdonald's review of farming regulations is a missed opportunity to develop a framework to support sustainable food and farming.

Sue Dibb, Food Ethics Council Executive Director said:

"In the face of massive economic, environmental and social challenges facing the food system, responsible businesses and civil society agree that business as usual is not an option.

"Businesses do not want excessive or unnecessary regulation. But those who take their responsibility for promoting sustainable food seriously realise that they need a coherent vision and regulatory framework from government to enable them to do so.

"This is a missed opportunity for government to show the leadership that business demands."

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Notes to editors

1. The Food Ethics Council works on issues surrounding food and farming. Our aim is to help create a food system that is healthy and fair for people and the planet. You can find out more about our work at www.foodethicscouncil.org. A report of recent meeting of our Business Forum, where Richard Macdonald presented the findings of the Farming Regulation Task Force, is available from our website.

2. The Farming Regulation Task Force report can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/05/17/pb13527farming-reg-report/. The government's response is at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/02/21/freeing-up-farming/.