Elliott welcomes EU Pig Meat Export Refunds
Ulster Unionist party Agricultural spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone has welcomed the decision by European Agricultural Commissioner, Marian Fischer Boel to take steps to introduce export refunds for pig meat carcases, cuts and bellies as a response to the difficult market situation at present.
Tom said: “This is a welcome step and most timely in view of the fact that producer prices fell a further 2p/kg this week and will aid the beleaguered pig industry in Northern Ireland. Pigmeat production costs have risen dramatically over the past few months, primarily due to huge increase in feed costs. At the same time producer prices have already decreased dramatically and the current position is simply unsustainable.
Although the Commissioner had introduced Aids to Private storage for 100,000 tonnes of pigmeat in October 2007 the crisis has deepened, as this measure has not stabilised prices and it appears insufficient to remedy the difficulties faced by European pig producers. The introduction of export refunds for carcases, cuts and bellies is a very welcome move and should bring some relief.
Private Storage is not the solution, as the result of this is to push the blockage further down the pipe whilst the availability of export refunds would provide an immediate boost with regard to business opportunities for local processors in countries such as Japan and the United States. Under the proposals, refunds would be payable for exports to all destinations as well as on the Private Storage Aid scheme set up last month. This should assist NI producers due to the fact that only 25% of our pig output ends up in local retail outlets and the remainder is exported.”