Allister remarks on milk auction outcome
27 March 2009
Jim Allister has said the outcome of Thursday’s milk auction is only small comfort to the Province’s milk producers, who face the prospect of producing at a loss for some time yet.
The MEP said,
“While the auction price has increased by a penny over February’s auction, there remains much anxiety among producers over the prices they are receiving for their milk. It is with regret that the European Commission is proving reluctant to inject more assistance into short term support at this time, via increased levels of export refunds”.
“However, one glimmer of hope has emerged in recent days, in the form of agreement by EU leaders to reallocate 1.02 billion Euros of unspent CAP funds into a range of measures, including support for a dairy restructuring scheme. Without doubt, the Northern Ireland dairy industry requires maximum access to its share of these funds, to get us out of a situation where we are overly dependent on milk powders. While we are still unsure as to the share of funds Northern Ireland will receive, I am delighted that funds are to be allocated to Member States as soon as Autumn of this year, with a further tranche in 2010”.
“I congratulate Dairy UK for its foresight in carrying out a Northern Ireland dairy processing competitiveness study. I believe these additional funds will provide the means to bring about positive change within the dairy industry.”
ENDS
