EU shake-up of sugar industry as quotas to go

FIVE years after an EU sugar industry reform closed the Irish Sugar factories at Mallow and Carlow, Brussels is ready to shake-up the industry again.

In October, the European Commission is expected to propose abolition of sugar production quotas.

EU food manufacturers who are struggling to cope with soaring sugar prices have been clamouring for change. Since the 2006 reform, the EU has gone from being one of the world’s largest sugar exporters to one of the largest importers.