EU report must not jeopardise UK milk contracts

Responding to the publication of the final report of the EU’s High Level Experts Group (HLEG) on Dairy today, Dairy UK Director General Jim Begg said: "The report is a defining document. It will ensure that the Commission continues to address the future needs of the dairy sector as it moves to a free market without quotas.

"A lot of the recommendations of the HLEG, such as those on contracts and producer organisations, are intended to address issues in other member states. It is absolutely vital that the Commission doesn’t impose retrograde measures on the UK that could actually harm our dairy industry or distort the market.

"We have some of the most sophisticated and advanced contractual relationships in Europe and it would be quite wrong to jeopardise the growing spirit of co-operation and dialogue throughout the supply chain.

"The Commission’s chief role here is to help the industry to get more out of the market. That’s why we attach particular importance to the recommendations on country of origin labelling, better focused R&D and retaining limited market management tools.

"Dairy UK has been actively engaged in Brussels in feeding its views into the HLEG and we will continue to work to ensure the needs of the whole UK industry are taken into account as the Commission formulates its proposals."