Dairy sector readies for milk quota overhaul

The EU’s milk quota regime has entered its final year, offering a once in a generation opportunity to the sector, writes Simon Coveney.

WITH exports valued at €3bn in 2013, the dairy sector is by a number of measures the country’s largest indigenous industry. Despite its formidable reputation and significant global footprint, the dairy sector in Ireland hasn’t even begun to reach its full potential. This is because, for the past 30 years, production has been constrained by an EU quota system. That’s all about to change, however, and the potential of the sector is about to be unlocked.

From today, the EU’s milk quota regime enters its final year. The decision to end the regime with effect from March 31, 2015, was initially taken by the EU Council of Ministers in 2008 and was confirmed in 2013, during the Irish presidency of the EU.