The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that no Irish-based companies have applied for the EU private storage scheme for pigmeat. The European Commission announced the measure last month in a bid to ease pressure on pigmeat markets.
The scheme, which opened on 25 March, allows operators to apply for aid to cover part of the storage costs of pigmeat. There is a stipulation that the produce is kept out of the market for a minimum of two months, and up to maximum five months. The scheme will remain open for applications until Friday 29 April.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski says that storage aid has been provided for almost 33,500t of pigmeat from 16 member states by 20 April. The commissioner adds that the aid has helped to stabilise markets and support farmers during the current challenges.
Wojciechowski says that the Netherlands accounted for 29% of the storage aid, followed by Denmark with 23%; Spain (19%); Germany (4%); and Poland (4%). Over 19,000t of pigmeat in the scheme was being stored for two months with 9,630t being kept for three months.
DAFM says that following the publication of the EU Commission regulation allowing for the measure it published a trader notice outlining application requirements on its website. According to a department spokesperson to date, no applications for aid for private storage of pigmeat have been received in respect of companies based in Ireland.
Meanwhile Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Ulster/north Leinster regional chair Frank Brady says that private storage aid would only push the issues facing the sector “down the road”.