Allister criticises cuts in Export Refunds
27 May 2005
Jim Allister MEP has criticised the European Commission for cutting the price of export refunds this week. Mr Allister has accused the European Commission of putting an unjustified downward pressure on milk product prices ahead of the scheduled cut in intervention prices this July.
Mr Allister commented, “I am disappointed that the European Commission has cut export refunds for whole milk powder by 17% and skim milk powder by 46% this week. It is clear that the European Commission want to see the price paid for milk products reduce in line with the scheduled cuts in intervention prices which are due to be introduced this July.
“I brought representatives from the diary industry from Northern Ireland to lobby the Commission in Brussels on this issue earlier in the year. I will continue to lobby the Commission on this issue and work for the Northern Ireland dairy farmer.”
Mr Allister believes that the current cut in export refunds should not have a large negative impact in the price paid for milk this summer. “Although the cut in export refunds will impact on Northern Ireland prices in the longer term they should not have a large impact on the prices which farmers receive for their milk over the summer months. Due to the very poor weather conditions milk production is lagging behind last years productions levels. This, combined with the fairly strong prices received at the United Auction over recent months, should result in milk prices increasing over the coming months.”
