Vol. 412 No. 6
121 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the progress which has been made on the proposed disposal of EC food surpluses to the Russian Republics to ameliorate food shortages in large areas of the former Soviet Union this winter; and if he will outline Ireland's contribution to effecting this proposal.
In December 1990 the European Community authorised a food aid package to the Soviet Union. There were two elements to this: a food aid programme valued at 250 million ECU and a credit guarantee facility to the value of 500 million ECU.
The food aid programme commenced in June-July of this year with the EC Commission inviting tenders for the manufacture and supply of specified products to the Soviet Union. Where possible, products stored in intervention were supplied. The commodities being provided are as follows: whole milk powder 49,000 tonnes, canned beef 14,800 tonnes, baby food 7,300 tonnes, pasta 2,500 tonnes, beef carcases 8,000 tonnes, canned pork 5,200 tonnes and tomato concentrate 3,000 tonnes.
Under the food aid programme Irish companies were successful in their tenders to supply 3,000 tonnes of whole milk powder and some 3,000 tonnes of beef for cannning. This food aid is being given to hospitals and institutions in designated cities in the Soviet Union. The EC Commission informed member states recently that deliveries of these products were almost complete.
With regard to the credit facility, the EC is organising loans of 500 million ECU to the Soviet Union through a group of international banks for the purchase of foodstuffs. A portion of the credit facility will be used to purchase foodstuffs in the Soviet Union's former trading partners in Eastern Europe, but the major part will cover the supply of products from within the Community.
The products to be supplied under the credit facility include the following: cereals 2,550,000 tonnes, beef 200,000 tonnes, vegetable oil 150,000 tonnes, whole milk powder 25,000 tonnes, rice 17,000 tonnes and soya products 10,000 tonnes. It is expected that supplies of these foodstuffs will commence as soon as some technical problems relating to the financial aspects have been overcome.
