During times of increased market disturbances, the EU Commission has the full competence, the necessary budget and the CAP operational policies and tools in place and at hands to protect the milk sector at European level. In the past, we had quite some occasions to congratulate the services of the European Commission for the market management performance at all hierarchy levels.
Since more than two weeks now, we call upon the EU Commission to react on today’s COVID-19 induced milk market disturbances in an adequate and proportionate manner and at European level in activating the Private Storage Aid scheme for butter, powder and cheese, as foreseen in the CMO Regulation.
Today, EDA is sad and, yes, shocked to see that Member States at national or even at regional levels feel obliged to step in and take the necessary actions to protect their national milk markets.
While important market outlets (export, Horeca, local open-air markets) are muted by COVID-19 and retailers have misused the crisis to push for reduced prices and longer payment delays, we are reaching the seasonal peak of milk production in the Union. Dairy markets at European and global level have reacted and prices, especially for powdered milk, show a strong downwards trend.
Vive l’Europe et vive le lait !
Léa Vitali
Communication Officer
European Dairy Association / European Whey Processors Association
This is the letter: 20200204 EDA President to Niksa Tkalec and SCA members
