Brussels reinstates exporters refunds

By FWi Staff

PROCESSED food exports received a boost this week, following a Brussels decision to reinstate export refunds for sales outside the EU.

The subsidies, which are designed to compensate food manufacturers for having to pay more for their raw materials due to the CAP, were suspended last May when the budget started to run out.

But this week the commission said it had found another 35m Euro and would start reissuing licences from 21 Aug until the end of September.

Farm minister Nick Brown is claiming the change of tack as a personal triumph.

“I twice raised this issue in the farm council and I wrote to agriculture commissioner Franz Fischler last month. I am therefore delighted that the commission has now responded to my concerns.

“The refunds, which are paid on goods such as chocolate, biscuits, whisky and yoghurt the so-called non-Annex 1 goods make a real difference to the competitiveness of exporters,” he added.