Plaid Cymru calls for NVZ plans to be put on hold until coronavirus is under control

The party’s Shadow Rural Affairs Minister, Llyr Gruffydd, said farmers are already under enormous pressure due to the spread of the virus and ploughing ahead with the plans would be seen as ‘callous and cynical’.

The controversial rules were due to be introduced in January, but have been delayed.

Earlier this year, a Freedom of Information request lodged by NFU Cymru to release the advice received by Ministers and officials from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) was rejected, rousing suspicion that the Welsh Government was intending to press ahead with its plans against the advice of the regulator.

Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths also voiced concern about the introduction of closed periods for slurry spreading late last year, saying she had asked officials to ‘look very carefully’ at why they were needed.