Farming News - NFU in EU talks to safeguard beef sector
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NFU in EU talks to safeguard beef sector
21 June 2011
The NFU has taken part in discussions in Brussels today as part of a special meeting of the European Commission’s Advisory Group on the Beef Sector. The meeting was convened by Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş, its aim being to look at how market instruments can be adapted to stabilise the sector.
The European beef sector has been suffering extreme price instability caused by input cost hikes and exacerbated by drought conditions in many Member States.
It was the first meeting for the group which now hopes to agree an action plan prior to July’s Agriculture Council, and then be included in forthcoming CAP proposals. NFU livestock board chairman Alastair Mackintosh put the meeting into context, “Input prices have gone through the roof yet farmers are not receiving equivalent increases in the beef price. Many UK beef farmers are struggling to make ends meet.”
Mr. Mackintosh said the meeting had been a productive one. He outlined the points put forward by the NFU, “we stressed the need to strengthen the export capacity of the EU beef sector by obtaining access to strategic markets and simplifying the export licence paperwork. We have asked that existing provisions within council regulations are made fit for purpose and relevant to present market conditions such as insurance as well as exceptional market support measures that better reflect input costs and profit margins.
“Imports must comply with production standards met by EU farmers - it is ridiculous to impose high welfare, environmental and food safety standards on EU farmers only to import cheaper beef from countries with lower standards.”
21 June 2011
The NFU has taken part in discussions in Brussels today as part of a special meeting of the European Commission’s Advisory Group on the Beef Sector. The meeting was convened by Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş, its aim being to look at how market instruments can be adapted to stabilise the sector.
The European beef sector has been suffering extreme price instability caused by input cost hikes and exacerbated by drought conditions in many Member States.
It was the first meeting for the group which now hopes to agree an action plan prior to July’s Agriculture Council, and then be included in forthcoming CAP proposals. NFU livestock board chairman Alastair Mackintosh put the meeting into context, “Input prices have gone through the roof yet farmers are not receiving equivalent increases in the beef price. Many UK beef farmers are struggling to make ends meet.”
Mr. Mackintosh said the meeting had been a productive one. He outlined the points put forward by the NFU, “we stressed the need to strengthen the export capacity of the EU beef sector by obtaining access to strategic markets and simplifying the export licence paperwork. We have asked that existing provisions within council regulations are made fit for purpose and relevant to present market conditions such as insurance as well as exceptional market support measures that better reflect input costs and profit margins.
“Imports must comply with production standards met by EU farmers - it is ridiculous to impose high welfare, environmental and food safety standards on EU farmers only to import cheaper beef from countries with lower standards.”
The European beef sector has been suffering extreme price instability caused by input cost hikes and exacerbated by drought conditions in many Member States.