Irish sugar industry may end, report claims
The study for the European Commission was reported to have named Ireland as one of four EU member states where sugar production may be abandoned if the proposed reforms are adopted.
European sugar production may decline 39% by 2012 following a reduction in prices, according to the study. The EU will probably produce 12 million metric tons of sugar after the end of a package of changes to its regime, against 19.7 million tons now. Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Greece will probably have the biggest reductions in their sugar industries.
France and Germany will see only a limited decline, the report said. The IFA announced last night that it will hold an emergency national council meeting in Dublin today regarding the threat to the industry in Ireland.
Sugar Beet Section chairman Jim O’Regan said in Ireland’s case a combination of factors will amount to a 47% price cut if the leaked proposals go through. “Such price cuts would devastate beet growing in Ireland,” he said, adding Minister Mary Coughlan is in no doubt of the challenge and he was confident she will reject the EU approach.
