Proposal to amend Regulation (EU) No 1370/2013 as regards the quantitative limitation for buying-in skimmed milk powder

Further information:

As a consequence of the difficult situation in the dairy markets, public intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder (SMP) in the EU rose to almost 400,000 tonnes in 2017, thereby risking severe pressure on the market, with a negative impact on dairy prices.

In order to avoid a drop in prices and a consequent worsening of farmers' standards of living, the Commission proposed and the Council decided to forego the automatic buying-in of SMP in a context in which stocks are already very high. By setting the quantitative limit at zero for 2018, buying-in at a fixed price is not be activated automatically.

However, the safety net is still meant to function, as the EU continues to be able to buy-in SMP through a tendering procedure, and to decide on a case by case basis how much to buy and at what price level.

The European Commission adopted on 24 November 2017 a proposal amending the so-called Fixing Regulation, which determines measures on fixing certain aids and refunds related to the Common Market Organization (CMO) of the markets in agricultural products.

The Council of the European Union endorsed the proposed amendments on 29 January 2018.

• Primary Source

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 29.01.18: Skimmed milk powder: Council modifies rules on public intervention to help the market http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/01/29/skimmed-milk-powder-council-modifies-rules-on-public-intervention-to-help-the-market/

Politico, 29.01.18: Europe’s hidden milk lake threatens fragile market https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-hidden-milk-price-lake-threatens-fragile-market-eu-commission/

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