Call to refund superlevy to help struggling milk producers

Almost £500m in dairy superlevy fines should be returned to producers, says European farming lobby body Copa-Cogeca.

The group repeated its call for reimbursement of the fines alongside other measures to help dairy farmers struggling with low prices.

It has also called for the milk intervention price to be raised, while the European Milk Board (EMB), which represents more than 100,000 milk producers in 15 countries, would rather see incentives for farmers to reduce volumes.

See also: Farmers to split quota fines over three years

Farm groups are also calling for advances of direct payments to be made by mid-October and producers will hold a mass demonstration when the EU Agriculture Council holds an extraordinary meeting on 7 September to discuss the market.

EU Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan has already refused an intervention price rise.