Brussels, 28/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Dairy farmer representatives from 14 European countries were “in agreement”: the latest EU milk package will need important changes “to secure future European dairy production”, the European Milk Board (EMB) stated in a press release on Friday 25 February, following a conference in Dublin from 22 to 24 February.
At the start of December 2010, the European Commission adopted proposals on contractual relations in the dairy sector. Inter alia, these set limits on collective negotiations, which should not relate to more than 3.5% of the total EU production and 33% of national production.
EMB President Romuald Schaber pointed out that “such a limitation ignores the real situation of the dairy sector. He noted that several individual dairies have a bigger market share than the proposed 'bundling' limits”, the press release said.
The EMB says these proposals neglect “the obvious need to strengthen the farmer's position in the dairy market”.
The classification of cooperatives was also discussed. They “are not producer groups so much as transforming industries that are really interested in low raw milk prices. Therefore producers … need to have the right and the possibility of joining pure and independent producer groups”, the press release goes on to say. Similarly, it is absolutely necessary “to supervise and regulate the market on EU level”, it adds.
Another problem is the milk producers' declining share of the retail milk price. “The trend is unmistakable and unless it is addressed in a way that fixes a fair portion of the final retail price for the milk producer then the long term future of Europe's family farm must be considered very doubtful. It's a real European problem that will require a real European solution”. (L.C./transl.rt)