New Year price support on cards

The European Commission has agreed to reconsider calls to support the pigmeat sector, after ministers at this week’s Farm Council said pig farmers’ financial problems had worsened. 

Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, France, Hungary, Poland and Romania, supported by Estonia and Austria, detailed how the industry has been hit by Russia’s ban on EU pigmeat since February.

It is hoped the Commission will respond with targeted private storage aid for pigmeat in January — although the Commission noted that overproduction in some member states is part of the problem.