Brussels, 29/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - In September, as it did in 2002, the European Commission may decide to cut Member States' sugar quotas, in order to meet the EU's commitments to the WTO. The decision would be taken a few weeks ahead of the Commission its final suggested changes to the organisation of the common market in sugar (which will, in theory, expire in 2006).
At the last sugar management meeting, the Commission suggested cutting A and B grade sugar production quotas by 500,000 tonnes for the 2003/2004 marketing year. This would mean limiting A and B quotas to 14 million tonnes in 2003/04, compared with 13.655 million tonnes in 2002/03 and 14.482 million tonnes in 2001. The final decision will be taken in September, and could well lead to a greater cut than last year; In July 2002, the Commission suggested a 500,000 tonne cut, which was increased to 800,000 tonnes in September.