Brussels, 21/08/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 7 August, the European Commission officially extended, until the end of June 2016, the European measures set in place to alleviate the effects of the Russian ban on European producers of fruit and vegetables.
The measures cover most types of fruit and vegetable (including peaches and nectarines) (see EUROPE 11370). They consist of product withdrawals for the free distribution of fruit and vegetables to charity organisations and for other purposes (animal feed, composting, distillation). So-called 'non-harvesting' and 'green harvesting' measures are also involved. Volumes (in tonnes) will be allocated to the member states which exported significant quantities to Russia in the three years preceding the ban. In certain cases, an additional quantity of up to 3,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables may be withdrawn from the market in all member states, in order to stabilise the market further.
“The significant actions taken to date by the European Union have demonstrated the solidarity of the EU with farmers most affected by the Russian ban. These actions also played an important part in mitigating the efforts of the ban”, said the Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, who firmly believes in the need to continue to provide “a safety net in order to give security to producers who continue to face difficulties”.
The decision comes after Russia's decision in June 2015 to extend its own restrictive measures until the end of August 2016.
In response to the Russian ban, the European Union has also taken specific measures for the dairy sector (public purchasing, aid to the private storage of butter and skimmed milk powder). These measures, to run until 30 September 2015, are expected to be extended until 29 February 2016.
The tough times currently being experienced by European stock breeders and producers of fruit and vegetables will be the subject of an extraordinary Agriculture Council, to be held on Monday 7 September. (Mathieu Bion)