Press Release: The Commission adopts food aid plan for the neediest people for 2010

On 20 November 2009 the Commission published its food aid plan for the neediest people for 2010. Originally designed to provide surplus stocks of farm produce ('intervention stocks') to needy people, the scheme was amended in the mid-1990s to make it possible to supplement intervention stocks with market purchases in certain circumstances. However, this year existing intervention stocks (cereals, sugar, milk powder, butter) broadly cover needs for the 2010 plan, so only limited recourse to market purchases is necessary. The allocated budget of 500 million Euros is the same as for the 2009 plan. This year, 19 Member States have decided to participate in the aid programme.