EU agriculture ministers have agreed a package of reforms under which fresh produce farmers in England will no longer need fruit, vegetable and potato (FVP) authorisations when claiming payments under the single payment scheme (SPS).

Defra ministers have until the end of November to decide how and when this change to the SPS, which should significantly alleviate administrative problems for growers, will be introduced. It may take effect from January 1 2008.

In a statement, the NFU called on Defra to “make a decision as soon as possible, to allow the Rural Payments Agency sufficient time to introduce administrative changes and give growers more certainty over their land rental arrangements going into next year”.

The NFU also announced that it expects Defra to consult the industry on further changes to the SPS, which mean that land used for the production of orchard crops will become eligible to support a claim for payment entitlements and also receive payment entitlements.

NFU president Peter Kendall said: “The council of ministers’ decision on the reform of the fruit and vegetable regime means that the administrative nightmare for growers of fruit, vegetable and potato authorisations can be consigned to history. We will now be working with Defra to ensure that this measure and the others agreed in the package are introduced quickly and appropriately in England.”

Fruit and veg co-operatives in the UK will also gain greater flexibility and their rules will be simplified to encourage producers to join. Additional support from the EU will also target boosting consumption among children.

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