Dairy production quotas within the EU – which have just been raised by 2% – should be increased again and again prior to their complete abolition in 2015, EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has said.
Speaking to a ‘Lacto Summit’ in Brussels, organised by German dairy industry body the Milchindustrie Verband, Fischer Boel predicted that EU milk consumption by manufacturers and milk consumers will grow by almost 6% by 2014.
“Further gradual increases to quotas are a strong option,” Fischer Boel said, while also highlighting “growing market opportunities in Asia”.
The EU farm chief said that existing concerns about protecting weak dairy production sectors in some member states could be met through relaxing rules on some direct payment subsidies, allowing them to help any food sector facing problems.
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