“It is a mistake to use private storage aid to tackle the milk crisis without a coordinated European programme to reduce production”, said Erwin Schöpges, President of the European Milk Board (EMB), on Monday 4 May.
As the European market is once again flooded with milk and prices are falling, only a reduction in the volumes of milk produced throughout the EU would help to calm the situation, according to the organisation. The storage of already processed products, such as milk powder, butter and cheese, “does not reduce pressure on the producer price, as these products continue to be part of the surplus supply of dairy products”, says the EMB.
Milk producer actions will be organised on 7 May in several European countries to call on the European Commission to activate a voluntary EU-wide production reduction programme. The temporary authorisation granted by the EU to, among others, producer organisations, allowing them to plan production cuts, “does not help in the current crisis situation either”, the EMB concludes. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)