The government has raised the possibility that some cider makers could be exempt from its minimum pricing legislation.

A number of small producers in the West Country are pushing for an exemption from the proposals for cider that is sold direct to the public from farms.

However, the plan is not being backed by the National Association of Cider Makers, which said it was continuing to campaign against the introduction of a minimum price at all.

Responding to a question from Ben Bradshaw, the MP for Exeter, on the impact on the cider industry, environment minister Richard Benyon said Defra was looking at the impact of the proposals on the farming industry.

“We are working on the issue with the Department of Health and the Home Office,” he said. “We will raise with those departments any instances in which the measure would have a pernicious effect on the rural community, and exceptions may be forthcoming.”

Despite this announcement, a spokesman for the NACM told The Grocer that exemptions from the law was not something it was calling for.

“As a small category, cider is very susceptible to price increases and we recognise the disproportionate impact of an increase on the industry and the rural economy,” he said. “But we still say that minimum pricing will not work and we will continue to focus our efforts on campaigning against it.”

The government announced plans to bring in a minimum unit price of 45p for England and Wales last month. Similar plans in Scotland are facing a legal challenge from the drinks industry.

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