The European Commission has confirmed that its proposed private storage aid scheme for pigmeat will open later this month. There there will be temporary exemptions for some scheme regulations. The Commission also announced further measures to address the food crisis in the form of a €500 million support package for farmers.
According to the EU Commission the introduction of a private storage scheme aims to ease pressure on markets in the EU, and provide EU funding to help cover the costs of storing certain products for a given period of time. From 25 March, operators will be able to apply for aid to cover part of the storage costs of pigmeat, and applications can be lodged until 29 April. But there is a stipulation that states that pigmeat be kept out of the market for a minimum of two months, and up to maximum five months.
The announcement of the scheme has not been taken well by many, as the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Ulster/north Leinster regional chair, Frank Brady says that a private storage aid package would be an “absolute disaster” for the pig sector. He says the only winner from such an arrangement would be the people storing the pork who would stand to make money in the coming months when prices improve.