Allister comments on dairy situation
23 January 2009
Ulster MEP Jim Allister has given a cautious welcome to developments this week on the dairy front.
The MEP said,
“I welcome the fact that the EU Management Committee voted to adopt the Commission’s proposals to introduce support measures -most notably export refunds- to alleviate some of the difficulties presented by current global trading conditions. I note that as a result of vigorous lobbying, the UK Government did not vote against these proposals, which had been a very real possibility”.
“Clearly, the Northern Ireland industry must now consider the various levels at which export refunds have been set according to the commodities which are most important to local production, in particular milk powders. If the current package is deemed insufficient to bring stability to the market place, then rest assured I will continue in my efforts to lobby the Commission to take further action.”
“I have been informed that bi-weekly meetings as opposed to monthly meetings of the EU Management Committee on dairy will take place until the current trading difficulties are brought under control. There will undoubtedly be further scope to press for further ‘fine tuning’ of these support measures in the coming weeks.”
“The latest auction results, while up just short of 2p on December’s auction to 18.5pence per litre is, I trust, an indication that market conditions are beginning to improve. However, prices are still well below the margins of producer profitability.
Therefore, I will continue in my efforts to ensure there is sufficient EU support to restore the sector to profit as quickly as possible.”
ENDS
