Vol. 481 No. 4
112 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether Irish dairy farmers will not have to meet the £5 million butter fat fine; and the action, if any, he will take with the EU commission on this matter. [16468/97]
With nearly six months of the present milk quota year still to run, it is not possible to accurately forecast the extent, if any, of a super levy fine which will be incurred.
Super levy liability is calculated in accordance with EU legislation and there is no provision under the EU Milk Quota Regulations for an exemption from the super levy penalty for any producer in respect of whom a super levy liability has been established. This applies irrespective of whether the levy relates to over production in volume or in butter fat terms or both.
I would like to emphasise that it is each producer's individual responsibility to manage his or her own quota. In this context, producers who have exceeded their quota and their individual butter fat reference level should take both matters into account in planning their milk deliveries for the remainder of the milk quota year.
