ICMSA in call for levies reduction

The ICMSA has urged the Government to reduce disease levies to 2002 levels and fulfil commitments made under the Sustaining Progress social partnership agreement.

Dairy Committee chairman Dominic Cronin said the failure of the Government in the 2004 Budget to cut disease levies back to their 2002 levels will cost Irish farmers 5m this year despite the fact that the incidence of brucellosis and TB continues to decline.

Dairy farmers, in particular, face a future of great uncertainty.