BROTHERS Dani and Adam Davies are just making their way in the world of cider.

But the pair who pick apples along the county’s Welsh border are among a growing group of cider makers concerned for the future.

The reason behind the worry is not a poor harvest or insect bug but a new ruling from the European Commission.

Industry experts claim that four out of five British cider makers could be put out of business if EU bureaucrats get their way and force the UK government to change its excise duty.

Currently, cider makers producing less than 70 hectolitres (12,000 pints) a year do not have to pay the duty which is worth around £2,500 annually.

For the Davies brothers and their Skyborry Cider and Perry enterprise, that money could make the difference between a successful business and a broken one.

The pair began collecting unwanted apples from churchyards and private gardens in 2011 while building their press out of green oak sleepers near Knighton.

Awards came at last year’s International Cider Competition in Whitecross, Hereford, and their brew is now being sold at the nearby Beer in Hand and Kilverts in Hay-on-Wye.

However, all the hard work and progress could be at stake should the 39-year-old tax exemption be overturned.

Dani Davies said the application of duty to small cider makers producing on their scale will have a huge impact, possibly forcing them to give up altogether.

“But more importantly,” he added, “it will reduce the variety of cider and perry available and could put a halt to innovation in cider making, since it is often small cider makers that take the risks associated with invention.”

Mark Haslam, from the Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) group, said the proposal had the power to “fundamentally change the face of the county.”

He said cider and perry had gone through a real growth period over the past decade, as could be seen by the numbers of drinks appearing at their annual Beer on the Wye Festival in Hereford each summer.

However, the costs – plus the time taken up by the added paperwork – will have a damaging effect on the craft industry, according to Mr Haslam.

“There are in the region of 60 small cider and perry producers in Herefordshire,” he said. “The majority of these are not free-standing commercial operations, but do provide important additional income to small rural communities.

“If these small producers become liable for this duty it is inevitable that many of them will cease making cider, not just put off by the loss of income, but also by the bureaucracy that will come with it.”

Mr Haslam also raised fears for the future of the region’s orchards – a view that is shared by the Davies brothers.

Dani Davies said: “The European Commission plan could also negatively impact on the local landscape, as it is often small cider makers that harvest the traditional orchards that define Herefordshire and the Marches.

“Our cider costs more to produce than mass-market cider as we use 100% apple juice pressed at harvest time.

“Therefore we can only use our capacity once per year. Large cider manufacturers often also use juice concentrate, so they can make cider more than once a year, and at any time during the year.

“We would like the UK Government to fight this EU ruling, to protect consumer choice, our cider making heritage, and our landscape.”

The European Commission says it brought about the plan as it claims the UK excise duty scheme contravenes EU legislation.

An EU statement said: “EU excise duty rules oblige member states to levy an excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages.

“There are no provisions which would provide for an exception to the general obligation to levy excise duty in respect of cider and perry made for sale by small domestic producers.”

The Treasury, which has two months to respond to the commission, says it will do its best to support the sector. “While we will study the commission’s arguments carefully, our support for this industry will continue,” it said.

• CAMRA has set up a petition to highlight their dissatisfaction with the EU proposal. For further information – and to sign it – visit camra.org.uk.