Rowing back on quota hikes under CAP important for dairy sector

ROWING back on the European Union quota increases under the Common Agricultural Policy health check is not a solution to improving milk prices, as presented by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, it was claimed yesterday.

Macra na Feirme president Michael Gowing said current quota increases are not linked to the low milk prices as Ireland and the EU is under quota. He said the European Commission’s recent announcement not to make changes to the yearly increases to the quota system agreed under the CAP health check is important.

Any change in this policy will only return a value on milk quota and be detrimental to youth, something the industry cannot afford.