asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the unfair advantage gained by Northern Ireland and UK pigmeat producers, he will seek the abolition of the levy currently applicable in respect of all pigmeat exported to the UK.
Written Answers. - Pigmeat Levy.
446.
Mr. Coughlan
Under Community regulations, monetary compensatory amounts (MCAs) are applied to pigmeat and other CAP products to compensate for differences arising where the market rate of a currency differs from the "green" rate which is used to calculate agricultural support prices. Member states with revalued currencies apply positive MCAs as levies on imports and subsidies on exports.
In an attempt to eliminate the problems arising from the operation of MCAs, the EEC Commission have drawn up proposals aimed at the dismantlement of MCAs. These include proposals for changing the method of calculating MCAs which, in the case of pigmeat, would have the effect of reducing them by about 50 per cent. The Government have welcomed the Commission's proposals and have indicated their support for them.