EU milk quota transfers plan faces legal hitch

ITALIAN farmers have tested the tradeability of milk quotas across EU borders, by transferring quota from Hungary and from the UK.

However, the transfers from the UK are unlikely to be approved by that country's Rural Payments Agency division of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, because EU cross-border trading is not allowed.

The next step for the Italian farmers is likely to be in the European Court of Justice, where they would make an argument for inclusion of milk quotas in the free movement and trade of people, goods and services across EU borders.