VICE Chairman of the UFU's Dairy Committee represented Northern Ireland Dairy Farmers at a High Level Dairy Group meeting in Brussels last week.
Over 400 delegates attended the Commission's "What future for milk?" conference where Mr Addison, along with representatives from the NFU and NFUS, heard Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos announce that a regulatory package to improve the functio
ning of the dairy sector will be launched by the end of the year.
Mr Addison explained: "Commissioner Ciolos advised that he will wait for the recommendations of the High Level Group (HLG) for dairy, due at the end of June, and this will be followed by a debate at the July Agriculture Council. However, indications suggest the Commission is still considering its options and that any new regulatory framework will be designed to tackle both immediate and longer term issues. These legislative proposals are likely look at measures to strengthen the negotiating power of producers in the supply chain, review of market mechanisms and a greater degree of transparency along the dairy chain."
In advance of the HLG's final report in June, Jean-Luc Demarty (Director-General, DG Agriculture) announced that draft conclusions will be made available by the end of May. He also stated that the HLG has so far identified agreement on the need for contractual relationships between milk producers and the dairy industry, including guidelines on best practice. UFU would not favour any legislative move on contracts, rather suggestions or guidelines on "best practice".
There continues to be a debate around intervention support. The Commission is still hearing evidence from stakeholders, with the next meeting due to take place on April 16th with consumer and retailer organisations.
