The horticulture sector remains ‘adamant’ that the HDC should not be included in the reform of the levy structure, according to Defra.

The government department last week published a summary of responses received to the consultation on the levy board restructuring. Of the 48 responses received, 37 per cent came from the horticulture sector, more than twice the feedback of any other sector.

Defra said that responses were ‘broadly supportive with varying degrees of acceptance of the need for reform’.

However it stated: “The horticultural sector remained adamant that the HDC should not be included in the reform process. Many respondents considered that horticulture levies should be used solely for R&D and should not be used for promotion activities.

“A number of levy payers also stated that there should be no increase in costs to levy payers as a result of the restructuring.”

Specifically, most horticultural respondents opposed or had serious concerns over the proposed increase in the maximum rate of levy to 0.75 per cent. As a result it has been proposed that the maximum rate will be amended in the statutory instrument down to 0.6 per cent.

There was also differing views over whether the threshold for levy payment should increase to £60,000.

Defra added that from the potato sector only the proposed change to quarterly returns was unsupported.

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