Press Release: Member States unanimously back Private Storage Aid scheme to help Irish pork market

On 11 December, 2008, the Member States of the European Union voted unanimously in favour of a proposal to introduce a specific private storage aid scheme for pigmeat produced in Ireland. The European Commission made the proposal because of the exceptional circumstances and the difficulties that the pigmeat market in Ireland is experiencing. This EU-funded storage scheme, backed at today's Management Committee, will involve only meat coming from pigs reared in Ireland on farms not affected by contaminated feed. Under the aid scheme, a maximum of 30,000 tonnes of pigmeat can be stored for a period of up to 6 months. The level of aid varies according to the cut of meat. . The scheme is expected to enter into force in the coming days.