Independent review of the bureaucratic burden on family farms: terms of reference

To provide an independent, practical assessment of the bureaucratic burden on family farms in Wales, and to identify clear, proportionate and deliverable actions to reduce unnecessary administrative complexity and duplication.

The review will focus on how regulation, scheme administration and farm assurance schemes are experienced in practice, recognising that burden often arises from the cumulative effect of multiple requirements rather than any single regulation.

The review will consider:

• The overall administrative burden on farms, including forms, record-keeping, inspections, documentary evidence and reporting requirements
• The implementation of current regulatory requirements, including how these are evidenced in practice and whether the application of these requirements is overly prescriptive
• The operation of compliance regimes e.g. inspections, monitoring, including duplication across organisations and the balance between enforcement and support
• The interaction between Welsh Government and farm assurance schemes and regulatory frameworks, including opportunities for greater alignment
• The cumulative impact of requirements originating from different sources, including Welsh, UK and (where relevant) EU frameworks
• The role of assurance schemes, supply chain requirements and market-driven standards, where these overlap with regulatory and scheme requirements.

The review will focus primarily on areas within Welsh Government responsibility, while recognising and mapping wider influences on the burden experienced by farmers.

The review will:

• Identify key drivers of administrative burden and duplication
• Identify and assess the cumulative impact of requirements on farm businesses
• Highlight areas where administration can be simplified, aligned or removed
• Recommend practical, deliverable changes, including: 
  • Short-term “quick wins” 
  • Medium - to longer-term 
• Identify areas for potential alignment of compliance checks across different regulations and schemes
• Ensure that any recommendations are consistent with maintaining appropriate regulatory outcomes and standards.

The Chair may identify additional areas for consideration during the course of the review. Any proposed changes to the scope of the review will be subject to agreement by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability.

The review will:

• Engage directly with farmers and industry stakeholders to capture ‘on the ground’ issues relating to the administrative burden on farms
• Seek input from key delivery bodies, regulators and policy teams
• Analyse current schemes, inspection regimes and reporting requirements to identify overlap and duplication
• Consider relevant evidence, previous reviews and existing data as appropriate, subject to GDPR guidelines
• Consider the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Land Management Duty of the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 and obligations of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and Environment (Wales) Act 2016.

The review will be independent, evidence-based and delivery-focused, with a clear emphasis on practical solutions.

• The review will be led by an independent Chair appointed by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability. 
• The Chair will be supported by a small Welsh Government secretariat providing analytical, policy and administrative support.

The review will:

• Provide interim advice to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability as appropriate, particularly where early opportunities for simplification are identified
• Produce a final report setting out: 
  • Key findings
  • Recommended actions (short, medium and longer term)
• Submit the final report to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability 

The review is expected to report within approximately nine months of commencement.