‘Imbalance between dairy producer and seller must be resolved’

THE biggest challenge for the dairy sector is the increasing imbalance of power between those who produce milk and those who sell it to the final consumer, according to Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness.

Addressing the ICMSA annual meeting in Limerick, she said that all around the globe farmers face the same challenge, yet the issue has not been tackled effectively because of an unwillingness to address competition law and how it interacts with primary producers.

Ms McGuinness said: “The EU’s CAP reform proposals acknowledge that there is a problem in the food supply chain and that over time farmers receive an ever-decreasing share of the final retail price paid for food.