February 21, 2008

EU rejects extension of pork export refunds

Germany's appeal to increase export refunds for pork has been turned down by Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, although she will propose for an extension period of private storage aid for pork.

The European Commission had received requests for relief from several EU member states, which are suffering from exorbitant feed prices in contrast to low pork prices.

However, Fischer Boel will propose to the pork management committee to extend the private storage aid period by three months, which was originally set to end in March but is now valid until June to avoid an oversupply of pork in the European markets.