Joe Walsh
Question:119 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the current level of market imbalance in the EU beef market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11013/97]
Written Answers. - EU Beef Market.
A report published by the European Commission this week suggests that the rate of self-sufficiency in the EU beef sector will be approximately 112 per cent in 1997. Taking account of the export possibilities under the GATT ceiling and imports from third countries, the net surplus of beef on the EU market this year is expected to be approximately 300,000 tonnes or 4 per cent of production.
The beef surplus should decline from 1998 to 2000, because of a gradual recovery in consumption and a fall in production as a result of the measure taken by the Agriculture Council last October and the continued implementation of the over 30 months scheme in the United Kingdom. The measures adopted by the Council include the calf slaughtering scheme and the early marketing scheme which, together, are aimed at diverting one million calves per annum from beef production with the overall objective of reducing beef production by approximately 350,000 tonnes per annum.