Producer organisations (POs) and their members are rapidly losing patience over the time being taken by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to assess whether POs comply with new criteria following an EU court ruling last September, according to the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).

Sarah Pettitt, chairman of the NFU board for horticulture and potatoes, expressed anger over the situation, which she believes is unacceptable.

She said: “We understand that this ruling by the EU was not of the RPA’s making but how the RPA deals with the situation is important and POs and growers are still not clear where they stand some three months later. It’s simply not acceptable that POs that are now planning for the coming season should be left in the dark like this.

“We hope the RPA will work rapidly to assess POs and, where they pass muster, remove the suspension of payments so the organisations and their growers can get back to the business of producing and supplying fresh produce.”

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