Farm ministers meet in Brussels

16 February 1998

Farm ministers meet in Brussels

FARM ministers meet in Brussels today (Monday) and tomorrow to discuss
reform of Europes tobacco regime.

The European Commission proposes to persuade growers to shift
production to
higher-quality tobacco, and also to allow growers to sell their quotas
enabling them
to leave the industry.

The reform is expected to gain member states support where
production is
concentrated. But there is concern about the potential job losses in
rural
areas.

Ministers are also due to hold the annual debate over fixing
agricultural
support prices. It is proposed that prices be largely unchanged in
1998-99.

The meeting comes amid rising hopes that a breakthrough is near on
a
veterinary equivalency deal to boost trade. An agreement would permit
the United
States and the European Union to give each other more authority to
check meat
and meat products before they are traded.

• Financial Times 16/02/98 page 27, page 40