THE NFU has welcomed the deal to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, but expressed concern about some of the details.

The EU Agriculture Council agreed to break the link between support payments and production, but gave different options, and even a different timetable, to member states.

"Because so many options have been given to member states, we could end up with a patchwork of different policies operating across Europe which could lead to market distortions," warned Sir Ben Gill, NFU president.

"The compromises give other countries options to maintain the link, at least in part, with production.

"We will ask the Government for full decoupling in England but, if other member states don't do this, it could distort the market."

The European Commission and UK Government must be vigilant in policing the agreement.

"If not, the reformers will be the losers. UK farming must be allowed to be competitive," said Sir Ben.

He was disappointed that the whole package had been delayed until 2005 and other countries could delay it until 2007.

It allows member states to decouple support payments completely in the arable, beef and sheep sectors and to start the process in milk.

Sir Ben was pleased the deal would not penalise bigger farmers: "But there is a great deal of other detail which now needs resolving satisfactorily. It is vital this is resolved quickly so that farmers know where they are and can plan ahead."

Andrew George MP, Liberal Democrat agriculture spoke-sman, said: "The CAP is becoming an uncommon policy in that it will now be applied differently across each farming nation."