When a milk quota holder ceases milk production, he/she retains the benefit of the milk quota. That producer may however decide to transfer the benefit of the milk quota.
This can be done by means of a permanent sale or transfer by inheritance of the land to which the quota attaches. Leasing of quota land is also an option. In the past, quota holders ceasing production could avail also of cessation or restructuring schemes.
No decision has yet been made on a cessation or restructuring scheme for the current year and indeed none is even possible before the regulations to apply the milk quota arrangements for future years are adopted by the EC Council of Ministers later this year. In the event of a restructuring scheme being put in place, smaller producers, as has been the case up to now, will be given special consideration.