ICOS delegation raises impact of declining dollar in Brussels

THE impact of the US dollar decline on Irish agri-food exports were among the issues raised in Brussels yesterday by a delegation from ICOS, the co-ops national umbrella body.

Dairy processing and export co-ops urged the European Commission to strengthen EU dairy product export competitiveness through optimum management of the dairy regime, especially in view of the fall in value of the US dollar.

ICOS Director of Policy Martin Varley said the overall discussions were significant because of the changes facing the dairy sector in 2004 and the negative impact that is likely to arise from the CAP reform cuts in the milk sector, which commence in July.