asked the Minister for Agriculture the detailed conditions to be applied to the UK marketing boards; how these will affect boards in Northern Ireland; if they will have implications for similar boards here; and, if so, in what respects.
Written Answers . - Marketing Boards .
49.
: I take it the Deputy is referring to the two regulations agreed by the EEC Council of Ministers on 12 May relating to the UK Milk Marketing Boards which were formally adopted on 19 June. I understand that the texts of these regulations have been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Broadly, these regulations authorise continuance of certain functions of the UK Milk Marketing Boards—in particular their exclusive right to purchase milk—subject to certain prescribed conditions. The authorisation is subject to the maintenance in the UK of specified high levels of liquid milk consumption, as compared with milk used for manufacturing. There are various safeguards for individual milk producers—80 per cent of whom must support each MMB in its area—in their dealings with the milk marketing boards. The regulations also prescribe conditions governing the sale of milk by the boards to prevent distortion of competition in the UK market either by price discrimination between processors of milk or between milk products produced in the UK and those imported from other member states.
The regulations apply to the Northern Ireland Milk Marketing Board. They do not affect marketing boards in this country.