Brussels cuts milk funding by 20%

3 December 1999



Brussels cuts milk funding by 20%

BRUSSELS funding for milk promotion has been cut by almost 20%, as the EU Commission continues to look for budgetary savings.

A total of just 8 million (£5m) is to be shared out between the 15 EU member states, to be spent on programmes targeted at young people.

The UKs share has been cut by 24% to £750,000. But David Barfour, general manager of the National Dairy Council, is not too dispirited.

“It is not surprising, as the EU budget has been shrinking for some time. But we still get the biggest single award.”

The NDC is also anticipating a massive increase in its budget, following the vote by farmers earlier this month in favour of a levy to fund generic promotion.

Together with funds from dairy processors, this is expected to generate another £7m.

Mr Balfour confirmed the NDC would use some of the Brussels money to continue its sponsorship of the junior triathlon.

And existing work to make milk more appealing to children would tie in with a bigger advertising programme to be launched next spring.