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In particular the Task Force are seeking examples of:

·         regulations that are unnecessary and could be removed without lowering standards for business, the public or the environment;

·         regulations that have had additional and unnecessary measures added to them; and

·         regulations that are overly complex or disproportionate in the way that they are implemented or enforced.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Jim Paice said:

“Regulations have nearly always been put in place for good reasons but not necessarily in the best way. There is too much red tape tying up our farmers and food businesses.

“I have challenged the Task Force to make recommendations that will change culture in both Government and business. The focus will be on outcomes, risk-based solutions and proportionate enforcement. They must think beyond ‘traditional’ regulation and enforcement, while maintaining our high public and environmental protection standards.”

Richard Macdonald, the Task force chairman said:

“We want farmers, growers and the food industry, who often complain about excessive regulation and bureaucratic processes, to help us to improve the system. This is a major consultation exercise to identify the issues and find solutions and we encourage all interested parties to submit evidence personally or through trade and representative bodies.

“It is our intention also to get out and meet farmers, growers and food processors to get first hand views on what's wrong and explore new and alternative ways to current regulations and processes.”

The consultation will be open until 31 October. Evidence can be submitted online at  http://engage.defra.gov.uk/farm-regulation/

Written submissions can be sent to FarmRegulationTaskForce@defra.gsi.gov.uk or to

Task Force on Farming Regulation, Area 8D Millbank, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.

All comments will be captured and recorded in summary in the Task Force’s final report in 2011.