Souring of sugar industry

EUROPEAN sugar processors fear a 50% cut in profits, which could leave the Irish factories at Mallow and Carlow devastated.

Even giant companies like Danisco, Europe's fourth-largest processor, have warned that a new sugar policy being devised in Brussels could cut EU sugar prices by 30% and sugar beet volumes by 10%. Here, an Irish Sugar spokesperson called for the EU industry, beet growers, and governments to unite to resist the expected attack on EU policies in World Trade Organisation talks, from sugar exporters such as Brazil, Australia and Thailand.

"The EU sugar regime benefits tens of thousands of beet growers across Europe and any major reduction in import tariffs would see their livelihoods seriously eroded," said the spokesperson. "We are working closely with the European sugar industry to ensure the interests of all parties are best represented.