Welsh farmers asked where red tape hits hardest

Welsh farmers are being asked to identify the regulations creating the biggest burden on their businesses as part of a drive to cut agricultural red tape.

NFU Cymru has launched a survey seeking examples of unnecessary paperwork, duplication and complexity, alongside farmers’ suggestions for making regulation more practical and proportionate.

See also: Farm paperwork mountain under spotlight at Royal Welsh

The findings will inform the union’s submission to the independent review of agricultural red tape announced in June by rural resilience minister Llyr Gruffydd.

The review is being led by Brecon farmer and former NFU Cymru president John Davies, who has spent the summer gathering farmers’ views at agricultural shows, livestock markets and other events across Wales.

NFU Cymru deputy president Paul Williams said the survey would give farming businesses across all sectors an opportunity to explain how regulation affected their day-to-day work.

“We want to understand which requirements place the greatest administrative burden on farm businesses, where farmers believe that unnecessary complexity or duplication exists and what changes could make regulation more practical and therefore effective on farm,” he said.

Streamlined regulatory system

Mr Williams said the union accepted regulation had an important role in maintaining high farming standards and consumer confidence, but argued requirements needed to be proportionate, workable and better co-ordinated.

“We must get to a situation where farmers understand why the regulation is required and what it is set out to achieve, that they feel comfortable and able to complete and maintain the records and applications necessary and applicable to their business, and they do not live in fear of what might happen when the inspector may next call on their farm,” he added.

Mr Williams described the process as a “once in a generation opportunity” to create a more streamlined regulatory system.

“This survey will help to strengthen NFU Cymru’s contribution to the review, helping to ensure our input is shaped on the real-world experiences of family farming businesses across all sectors and all areas of Wales,” he said.

The survey will remain open until Friday 2 October 2026.