Archive Article: 2001/08/17
uEU competition commissioner, Mario Monti, is to investigate the commercial activities of German supermarkets following allegations of price fixing. With five companies controlling over 90% of the German food market, supermarket power is even more concentrated than in the UK. Retail beef prices, for example, have not moved, despite this years slump in farm-gate values.
uSPAIN has lifted its unilateral ban on imports of live sheep and pigs from Northern Ireland, which it imposed when the province was granted foot-and-mouth free status in early June. Spain and the Republic of Ireland were the only two EU countries maintaining a ban, the latter lifted its ban last week.
uPOLAND has extended its ban on imports of pigs and pig products from Spain and Germany to cover the whole of the EU, plus a further 11 European countries. The original ban was in response to outbreaks of classical swine fever in Spain and Germany, but recent floods in Poland have put the country on an even higher state of disease alert.
uFARMERS in Wales have less than three weeks to apply for the Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme. The Countryside Council for Wales has warned that the application period will close on Aug 31. To help farmers who are interested in signing up, the CCW is inviting farmers and landowners from north-east Wales to attend one of three seminars being held locally. *