IFA: Sugar reforms to put thousands out of business
The Irish Farmers Association has claimed that thousands of farmers will go out of business as a result of proposed reforms in the EU sugar market.
The reforms, published by the European Commission today, includes cuts of around 40% in support prices, as well as reductions in quotas.
Brussels currently buys sugar from EU producers at around three times the world market price.
The EC has recognised that the sugar industries in Ireland, Greece, Italy and Portugal could collapse as a result of the new measures and has promised generous compensation.
The reforms are aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of the EU sugar sector and will be the subject of negotiations involving EU agriculture ministers later this year.
The changes are also designed to stop the dumping of EU sugar on world markets and to open EU markets to more imports from these countries.
