Vol. 533 No. 5
14 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his views on whether the special purchase scheme will be taken up by all EU member states to ensure price stability in the beef market throughout the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9281/01]
The special purchase scheme will come into effect in mid-April and will remain in place until the end of the year. Member states which do not implement the purchase for destruction scheme will be obliged to implement the special purchase scheme from mid-April while member states who already implement the destruction scheme may implement both schemes until 30 June. The special purchase scheme will become compulsory in all member states from 1 July.
I am confident that the scheme will be taken up by all member states. The special purchase scheme is different from the destruction scheme in that it removes the obligation on member states to destroy the beef, which may be used for food aid or as free food to the deprived people in the country. This option should help to remove one of the obstacles to the implementation of the scheme in some member states.
The special purchase scheme will provide considerable support to the beef market, particularly in the second half of the year. The trigger prices fixed for Ireland are relatively high and allows the EU Commission to support prices at reasonable levels.
