Our draft report relates to the Commission's proposals on export refunds, aid for use of butter in the preparation of fish and the effects of thermal processing and distribution on the quality and nutritive value of food. The export refunds on certain agricultural products come about because of the necessity to give financial assistance in the form of export refunds to compensate for the difference between the higher Community prices and those obtained in lower world market prices.
The view of the Joint Committee is that:
The Commission proposal to consolidate and clarify existing rules should, if adopted, have administrative advantages and the Joint Committee has no objection to it. It is advised that such changes as are proposed should have no adverse effects as far as Ireland is concerned. As far as the proposal to make cheese, as an element of processed products, eligible for export refund is concerned, the Committee is informed that there is no significant Irish trade at present in such products but no doubt, if the proposal is accepted, the possibility of the development of such a trade will be enhanced.