The European Commission has released a long-awaited report from an expert panel on fixing Europe’s troubled dairy sector.
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An EU ‘high level group on milk’ has proposed boosting the power of dairy producers in the EU market, reducing their vulnerability if prices fall suddenly.
Last year, EU dairy farmers protested often violently against lost income, forcing the Commission to release emergency subsidies.
The group’s report recommends that milk producers and processors work together through formal contracts in future, covering prices and delivery volumes; it suggests these could become mandatory through EU or national laws.
It also proposes EU rules insisting dairy producers have the right to negotiate contracts through producer organisations.
The report also wants the Commission to examine legalising ‘place of farming’ origin labelling for dairy products.
EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos promised legislative proposals by the end of the year.
He welcomed the report, adding: “My main aim is that we consider medium- to long-term measures which address…last year’s crisis.”
