Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1496. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers' levies collected for An Bord Bia can be reconstructed as voluntary contributions in order to allow for accountability and to allow farmers to opt out if they wish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32494/20]
View answerThe livestock levies on cattle, sheep and pigs levied by Bord Bia and payable by primary producers have been incorporated into its legal framework since its foundation as An Coras Beostock agus Feola (CBF) in 1979. The rates of levies have not fundamentally changed or increased since its evolution into An Bord Bia in 1994 and stand at €1.90 per bovine, 25c per sheep and 35c per pig.
These levies are charged at time of slaughter or at point of live export. The fundamental principle is that of equality in that they apply to all primary producers of these animals without exception.
The funds generated enable and permit the advertising and promotion operations of Bord Bia to carry out its activities and particularly with regard to the Bord Bia Quality Assured product, which carries the “Q mark”. The statutory levies provide the necessary matching industry sector funding for promotion campaigns carried out by Bord Bia. This is a requirement of the EU State Aid Regulations which Bord Bia, as a State Body, has to comply with.
In regard to the possibility of reconstructing these levies as voluntary contributions, in the first place, that would require an amendment to the Bord Bia Act, and secondly, issues would need to be considered with regard to the collection of such contributions, the principle of equal applicability, and potential State Aid implications.
In regard to accountability, I wish to assure the Deputy that there is visibility of the income generated by the levies by way of their inclusion in the Bord Bia Annual Accounts which are lodged with both Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the Bord Bia website. In addition, Bord Bia's governance structure includes farming organisation representatives on its main Board and sub-Boards.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, I have asked my Department to review the current levies system with a view to considering if statutory amendments are required.
