Press Release: Commission to propose suspension of import duties on cereals

Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, announced on 26 September 2007 that she will propose in the coming days the total suspension of cereal import duties for the current marketing year - which ends on 30 June 2008 – unless market conditions justify their reintroduction before that date. The proposal, which was put to EU agriculture ministers, is a reaction to the exceptionally tight situation on the cereals markets and the record price levels. Although the actual levels of border protection for cereals are rather low, import duties are still applied for certain types of grains that are relevant for the balance of the EU market. At the same time, there are no export refunds on cereal exports. The proposal would have to be approved by the Council of Ministers.