Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 6

Written Answers. - Agricultural Imports.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

51 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the volume of beef, lamb, milk products and cereals currently being imported from outside Europe into the EU; and the future plans, if any, there are for such imports. [11240/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I assume the Deputy is referring to imports into the European Union from all non-Union sources. The latest statistics available for imports into the Union from third countries are for the calendar year 1993. The total tonnage and value for the products concerned was as follows:

	Volume (Tonnes)	Value (Million ECUs)
Live Bovine Animals	160,224	224
Beef	194,890	768
Live Sheep	33,597	60
Sheepmeat	194,018	509
Milk Products	242,726	584
Cereals	4,405,611	869

Most imports and agri-food products into the Union until the year 2000 will be governed by the various GATT import commitments undertaken by the Union.

Another factor influencing Union imports over the coming years will be the bilateral trade and co-operation agreements either currently in place or envisaged with various trading partners. I will continue to press that these agreements will take account of the particular sensitivity of agricultural markets.

I should of course also point out that trade agreements are reciprocal and provide opportunities to Union exporters to develop further their own exports with other countries.