Private storage for pig meat in European Union
The European Commission has decided to introduce a new scheme providing aid for private storage (PSA) for the pig meat sector. Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, expressed that he is pleased with this decision.
The decision was made after consultation with Member States at a meeting in Brussels yesterday.
Commenting on the scheme, the Minister said, “I am pleased that the Commission is coming forward with this measure in response to price difficulties for pig producers across the EU. I have been to the forefront in requesting market support measures at recent Councils of Agriculture Ministers and have joined with like-minded ministers from other member states in highlighting the effects on our pig producers who have been badly hit by falling prices and the Russian trade ban on pig meat.”
He added, “this measure provides tangible recognition from the EU Commission of the difficulties facing the pig meat sector at this time. Many Irish producers, despite the fact that they operate with relative scale and efficiency are continuing to experience negative margins since the loss of the Russian market, which was Ireland’s third largest market for pig meat as well as wider downward pressure on prices.”
Applications for the aid to private storage scheme will be available as of next week. EU prices have now fallen to around €135/100kg – from just over €168/100kg in mid-July 2014.
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