The move will not have any immediate impact on domestic production, as the UK is currently falling well short of fulfilling its quota allocation.

However, while the NFU supports the move as a ‘sensible response to soaring demand for milk’, Dairy UK warns it could harm the industry if increased EU milk supplies lead to a drop in prices.

The change means a further 2.84 million tonnes of milk could be produced each year across the EU, although the actual increase will be lower, as some member countries are not meeting national allocations.

Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said she was ‘delighted’ Ministers had backed the European Commission’s proposal.

Source: Farmers Guardian