asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the imports of cereal substitutes into the different EC member states each year for the past three years, with particular reference to the type, quantity and value of cereal substitutes from the different countries involved; if he will comment on the fact that the cereal imports into the Community practically equal the amount of the Community member states grain placed in intervention last year; and on the costs of these intervention measures for the years involved for the different member states using this mechanism for dealing with cereal surpluses; and the reasons offered by the Commission as to why these cereal substitutes are allowed, having regard to the problems now being faced by Irish cereal growers.
Written Answers. - Cereal Imports.
Imports of cereal substitutes into the EC in the last three years were: 1983 — 13.2 million tonnes; 1984, 13.1 million tonnes; 1985, 12 million tonnes (provisional). A detailed breakdown is not readily available but will be supplied to the Deputy in due course.
The imports of cereal substitutes in the years mentioned roughtly equalled the quantity of cereals taken into intervention in the various member states. The imports have, of course, contributed significantly to the cereal surpluses within the Community and have added enormously to the cost of the cereals support arrangements.
The Deputy can be assured of my concern at the extent of these imports. In the Council of Ministers I have, in fact, repeatedly advocated measures aimed at curbing them. However, in the case of most of the substitutes the rates of import protection are bound in GATT. Commitments in these respects were made in the context of the Community gaining international acceptance of its cereals support system and — or obtaining advantages for Community agricultural and industrial exports in the markets of its GATT partners.