EU Dairy Export Funds a Step in the Right Direction

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD,  welcomed the announcement by EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mariann Fischer Boel to introduce measures to assist the dairy sector.

Speaking on his return from a successful trade mission to Japan, the Minister said: "this new package of measures was just the remedy that the sector required at this critical juncture".

Meanwhile, Irish Farmers Association President Padraig Walshe has said that last week's announcement would support dairy markets through the current tough times with export refunds and a greater commitment to intervention would help restore some confidence in the dairy sector.

However, he said it was only a first step. The Commission must ensure that refunds are brought back in at an adequate level to attract world market buyers and kickstart the export trade. The current tendering method used to set export refund levels creates uncertainty and is less than satisfactory.

"The Commission needs to take a realistic view of the market and give a clear indication to the trade of the minimum refund tender they will accept. This would help ensure that exporters can properly finalise prices and contracts with buyers," he said.

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