11 September 2009

2 minute read

French dairy farmers announced a revolt yesterday (10 September) at a press conference held by the European Milk Board (EMB), in Paris.

Mr Massol, a French dairy farmer and President of the APLI milk producers association has suggested that dairy farmers would resort to any measures and suspend their milk supplies if necessary.

Farmers are livid about the negligent and ineffective approach of the European politicians in dealing with the current milk price crisis, said Mr Massol. Reports from the past month have been similar across Europe.

Representatives from EMB unanimously called on EU politicians to overhaul the agricultural policy since the demands previously put to EU politicians on 1 September 2009. They have repeatedly been asked the EU to initiate medium-term measures for flexible, demand-driven supply control. In view of the increasing oversupply, the EMB further demands that they first help ease the critical price situation by quickly reducing the volume of milk.

Romuald Schaber, President of the EMB and President of the German Dairy Farmers' Association (BDM) was clear in his criticism of the superficial policy of the European Council and the European Commission. Ernst Halbmayr, Member of the Board of EMB and spokesman for the Austrian organisation IG-Milch said, "It’s not just the French dairy farmers that are so furious, scared about their livelihood and prepared to fight for their farms. The governments of the EU and those at the top of the European Commission have an obligation to take the necessary corrective steps."

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