asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the report on the production of vegetables in the member-countries of the EEC made by a British National Farmers' Union horticultural team following on a tour of investigation in Europe; whether he has any comment to make on the warnings contained in the report as to the danger of vegetable surpluses in Europe; and what effect he considers that the development of such surpluses is likely to have on Irish fruit and vegetable producers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Production of Vegetables.
10.
I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy.
The position in regard to production of vegetables in the European Economic Community is that the Community as a whole has been self-sufficient for some years past but the degree of self-sufficiency varies between the different Member States and for the different products. Periodic or seasonal surpluses are, of course, not an uncommon feature of the fruit and vegetable trade.
The implications of this situation will be closely examined by the Common Market Study Group for Fruit and Vegetables in the light of the Community's regulations. These regulations include certain safeguards against the disruption of domestic markets through imports.