Vol. 519 No. 5
135 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will change the ruling in the milk quota restructuring to allow farmers who buy bought quota to sell it on to a third party rather than back to the reserve. [14343/00]
A milk producer who purchases quota under a restructuring scheme implemented after 1 April, 2000 under the provisions of Regulation 26 of the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations, 2000, can transfer the purchased quota by way of any of the following transactions: (i) lease of quota and the lands to which it is attached to a spouse or relative as defined in the regulations; (ii) transfer of quota and the lands to which it is attached by way of gift to a spouse or relative as defined in the regulations; (iii) sale of quota in full or in part under a subsequent restructuring scheme or; (iv) temporary lease the purchased quota provided the three year limit on temporary leasing is not exceeded; (v) transfer by means of the inheritance of the lands to which the quota is attached.
It is not possible, however, under the provisions of paragraph (8) of regulation 28, to sell such quota with land and it is not my intention to change that position.
The rules for this year's restructuring scheme were drawn up as part of the overall recasting of the milk quota regime. This was done after extensive consultation within the sector and detailed consideration by the milk quota review group.
