Brussels, 04/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU) and COGECA (General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU) have warned of the difficult situation being experienced by European beef producers as a result of the low prices they receive and the high costs of production. The two organisations held a meeting with European Commission experts to discuss the matter on 17 December.
COPA-COGECA Secretary General Pekka Pesonen stressed that “beef prices are hardly at the same levels as 2008 whilst animal feed costs have reached 2008 levels and are expected to increase further”. He added that, in 2011, beef prices are forecast to remain fragile and heavily dependent on developments in world demand, notably in the EU's two main clients, Russia and Turkey.
Pierre Chevalier, who chairs COPA-COGECA's beefmeat working party called on the Commission to analyse the medium-term prospects for world beef meat production and trade in order to anticipate market developments.
Increasing the age at which cattle are tested for BSE. COPA-COGEA has welcomed the latest scientific opinion by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) in mid-December that the age at which cattle are tested for BSE can be raised in 2011. As a result, COPA-COGECA has asked the Commission to bring forward proposals for this change as quickly as possible. The organisations also want the European Commission to review the ban on processed animal protein in feeds for non-ruminants, avoiding intra-species recycling. This will be possible once validated diagnostic methods and analysis techniques become available, possible by the end of 2011, COPA-COGECA says. (L.C./transl.rt)