10 January 2008

2 minute read

The Commission will also unveil the preliminary results of a study on the effects of the expiry of the EU milk quota system on milk prices, production, exports and the competitiveness of the European dairy sector.

Stakeholders will be invited to give their views on all these aspects, including the impacts of the expiry of the quota regime, possible future forms of market support and the different models for transition to a time without quotas after 31 March 2015.

The conference will be open to the public through a web-streaming on the health check website of DG Agriculture.

"Demand for dairy products is on the rise so the sooner we start discussing what measures we can take to ensure a smooth transition to a market-oriented dairy policy the better," Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development said.

"The health check provides the perfect opportunity for just such a discussion. That is why I have invited stakeholders to this seminar and why I hope to have an even broader debate on my blog."

On the 20th of November, the Commissioner launched a debate on the Health Check, in a report which contains her ideas on how EU farm policy should adapt to the 21st century challenges facing European farmers.

After hearing the views of farmers, consumers, environmental NGOs, the European Parliament and European farm ministers, Mariann Fischer Boel will return with legislative proposals in May 2008.

TheCattleSite News Desk