Vol. 560 No. 1
247 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the commitment he has given to ring-fencing of milk quota in the west and north-west of the country means that there will be no slippage of milk out of the region under any set of circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1741/03]
The ring-fencing provisions in the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations 2000 as amended, apply where milk quota is attached to land in a less favoured area that is transferred, by sale, lease, or gift. They require that the milk produced in respect of that quota be produced on the lands that have been transferred or other lands within 48 km of those lands.
As regards a producer who wishes to transfer his-her milk quota to a different dairy-co-operative, he-she may do so provided he-she satisfies the normal transfer conditions i.e. notification of the transfer is given in accordance with time limits and he-she commences deliveries to the new co-op. I am not considering removing the existing ring fencing provisions.
