Import duties may go on cereals

THE European Commission has proposed the suspension of import duties on all cereals except oats for the current marketing year, which ends on June 30, 2008.

It is a reaction to the exceptionally tight situation on the world and EU cereals markets and the record price levels. A meeting of the EU Council of Agricultural Ministers starting on December 18 will have to give its approval.

EU Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said she hopes this proposal will help facilitate cereals imports from outside the EU and reduce tensions on European grains markets.

Meanwhile, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Mary Coughlan has welcomed the commission’s intention to introduce export refunds for pigmeat.

She said she had taken up this matter directly with Ms Fischer Boel and had stressed the need for such support on previous occasions at council of ministerial level.

The precise terms of the commission’s proposal will be made available at an EU Pigmeat Management Committee meeting in Brussels today. At the same meeting, the fixing of a time limit for applications in respect of aid for private storage will also be considered.

IFA Pigs Committee chairman Michael Maguire said 50% of pigmeat produced here is exported, with 25% going to Britain, The export refunds proposal will be beneficial in moving product to those markets.