Dairying ‘threatened by EU cutbacks’

DAIRY industry chiefs have warned Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan the dairy sector was under serious threat due to excessive withdrawal of market supports by the EU.

In the 12 months to date, €110 million worth of casein and other dairy sector sales have been lost as a result of excessive cutbacks in price supports to intervention levels, the minister was told at a meeting in her offices yesterday. Industry bosses told her it was time to put this issue at the top her agenda.

The urgency was given added impetus when it emerged yesterday evening the EU Commission is to cut refunds on skim milk and whole milk powders by 46% and 17% one month before the July 1 CAP reform cuts were due to come into effect.