Brussels, 20/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided not to propose adopting any exceptional measures at this stage to improve the supply of sugar to the EU.
The Commission had originally considered authorising sugar imports and the conversion of out-of-quota sugar to quota sugar of between 300,000 and 400,000 tonnes. Sources indicate, however, that, after failing to win the support of the majority of member state experts at their meeting on 28 April, it will not re-submit its proposal on 26 May.
EU farmers and cooperatives organisations, Copa-Cogeca, were strongly opposed to these measures which were backed by CIUS, the European sugar-using food and beverage industries, to prevent a “supply crisis” this summer (for details, see EUROPE 11547). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)