UK beef association responds to former chairman’s criticism
UK association AHDB Beef & Lamb (formerly Eblex) has responded to criticism from its former chairman.
Stuart Roberts stepped down in June following a disagreement about how farmers’ levies should be spent.
He said: "This is the toughest decision I have ever taken, but I felt it is important to stand up for what I believe in which is agricultural levies belong to farmer and processor levy payers. It should be for the industry through their AHDB sector boards that are responsible for determining how their levies are spent.
“At the present time I can foresee a realistic prospect of the levies, in the long term, being lost in the realms of a remote tax that the industry will have little or no influence over. This is a situation I am determined should not be allowed to happen and have therefore resigned as an AHDB board member and chairman of the AHDB Beef and Lamb sector board.
“The work of AHDB and its sector boards is invaluable and is crucial to the success of the industry.
However I have now realised that the direction of travel which I believe is being pursued by this government is not in line with my own fundamental principle about the importance of the sector boards and their sovereignty over levy priorities.”
ADHB has responded in a statement from senior director Nick Allen, who said the funding structure means that AHDB’s marketing is deemed to use public funds, so since the Whitehall austerity drive came into effect, spending is subject to additional scrutiny and approval by the government Efficiency and Reform Group.
He added: “Because the levy we collect from farmers and producers is compulsory, under European law it is considered to be a tax. This affects what our ad campaigns can and can’t say. For example they can’t say ‘buy British’ but can say ‘look for the Red Tractor or Quality Standard Mark assurance labels’.
“We work hard to help farmers enhance their businesses through our research and development, knowledge transfer, communication and export market work, but, like all organisations, must do it within the boundaries presented to us.
“The board will continue to drive the organisation forward and we will continue to put the needs of the industry at the heart of our planning. An announcement about the appointment of an interim chair will be made imminently.”
