Coveney: Milk levy to fund overseas market research

BORD BIA and the Irish Dairy Board (IDB) can work in tandem to develop new overseas markets for Irish milk exports, according to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Speaking in response to dairy sector resistance to the new milk levy, Mr Coveney said the 0.1c per litre levy would fund essential Bord Bia market research in new emerging markets in preparation for the end of the EU’s milk quota regime in 2015.

Mr Coveney said: “The IDB does not represent the entire dairy industry. It does a lot of good work finding new markets for Kerrygold butter and Irish cheese products and milk powder, but Bord Bia also has a broad remit to promote all of Ireland’s dairy products. I am meeting the IDB next week to discuss any concerns they may have about duplication. The dairy board is a private body, whereas Bord Bia is a publicly-owned body, and that is the reason for the levy.