Europe urged to consider dairy
Scotland’s rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead, has called for the UK government to raise the plight of Scottish dairy producers at next week’s European Council meeting.
Scotland’s dairy sector is currently facing severe market difficulties caused by global volatility in the price of milk, which has seen the price of four pints fall as low as 89p in some Scottish supermarkets.
Lochhead has asked Defra secretary of state, Elizabeth Truss, to ensure the issue is firmly on the agenda at next Monday’s EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
He says, “The plummeting price of milk is potentially very damaging for Scotland’s hard working dairy farmers and processors. One of the underlying causes in the dramatic fall in the price of milk is the Russian food import ban, which has led to a dairy surplus across Europe.
“The Scottish government and our agencies are already doing all we can to support our dairy companies, such as First Milk, to respond to the current volatility. And I have long been pressing the UK government to widen the Groceries Code Adjudicator’s remit and powers so that she can shine a spotlight on contracts between primary producers and processors, as well as processors and retailers.
“But Europe-wide action may be required to bring stability to this sector, which has very positive medium- and long-term prospects.
“I have therefore written to the Defra secretary of state asking for the severe market difficulties being faced by Scottish dairy producers to be aired at next Monday’s EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
“I am concerned that the current global volatility is already denting confidence in Scotland’s dairy sector. The European Commission must stand ready to intervene in a measured but effective way if conditions persist or worsen.”
