Ahead of today’s EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels (Monday, February 21), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, said he will outline the ongoing pig-sector challenges, as well those posed by rising inputs costs.

And, he said he will call again for concerted EU action on the difficulties being experienced in the pigmeat sector.

Speaking ahead of the Council, the minister said:

"On the market situation, I remain concerned at the pressures that rising input costs are having on farm incomes. I continue to closely monitor the situation, and have called for appropriate action at EU level, including in relation to anti-dumping duties on fertiliser imports.

The meeting will also include discussions on strengthening coherence between the CAP, EU trade policy and EU environmental policy, as well as on measures to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market or exported from the EU.

Ministers will also consider the future revision of EU agri-food promotions policy; the challenges impacting farm incomes; and animal-welfare items covering the commercial keeping and sale of dogs; and the impact of the avian influenza situation on the free-range eggs sector.

Looking forward to the discussion on coherence, Minister McConalogue said Ireland supports the proposal to enhance coherence across trade and environmental policies.

But, he said, European standards are challenging to meet, and European producers should not be disadvantaged in an international trade context by the need to maintain those standards.

"So as we work to increase coherence, we must ensure that our farmers continue to have access to global markets. 

The EU can play a leadership role in this area, by collaborating closely with our global partners on these global concerns.”

On the forthcoming review of EU promotion policy, he added:

"European citizens benefit from a wide range of quality food and drink products, and are encouraged to consume these products in a way that supports the maintenance of a healthy, balanced diet. Current promotion policy contributes to the achievement of this objective."

But, the approach to future promotion policy, both in terms of content and language, should be balanced and proportionate, he said.

"Neither should it be seen, or presented, as anything other than promoting consumption in a responsible and proportionate way, as part of a balanced, healthy diet. Our healthy, safe, nutritious and traceable meat products are an excellent source of key nutrients."