Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
486. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there have been discussions at the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council on the need to have fertiliser costs reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3989/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware that fertiliser is a major input cost on farms. Indeed Eurostat estimates that fertiliser is the third most important expenditure item on EU farms, accounting for €19.2 billion of input costs in 2014. In terms of Irish farms, the Central Statistics Office 2016 final estimates of Output, Input and Income in Agriculture identifies fertiliser expenditure at €508 million in 2016.
I have long believed that the elimination of fertiliser tariffs and anti-dumping duties is something that could help farmers reduce their input costs and this is something that I have actively pursued at Agri Fish Council in 2016 and 2017, both with the Commission and in consultation with my Council colleagues.
At the Agri Fish Council in June 2017, I asked the Commission to address the significant overpricing of fertilisers in the EU brought about by the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports.
In that context, in August 2017 the Commission gave notice of its intention to conduct a partial interim review of the anti dumping measures applicable to imports of ammonium nitrate originating in Russia. It is expected that this review will be completed in late 2018 as per European Commission notification (2017/C271/07).
I should point out, however, that member States are not ad idem on this point, and that while Commissioner Hogan acknowledged the desirability of bringing about lower prices, he has also indicated that, despite considerable efforts on his part both with other Member States and internally within the Commission, consensus will be difficult to achieve.
