Agricultural Council (Hansard, 15 December 1994)

§ Mr. Waldegrave

I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting of the council, which lasted from 12 to 15 December. The council¹s major achievement was agreement on ground rules for implementing the general agreement on tariffs and trade Uruguay round agreement on agriculture. This package, including the framework agreement on bananas, will now pass to the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 and 20 December for formal adoption along with all other GATT implementation texts. This is a very important agreement for Britain in itself. In addition, I am glad to report that I achieved a range of measures designed to meet specific British interests, notably in relation to cereals, bananas, and commitments of benefit to the processed food industry. I also made clear to the Commission that the eventual arrangements for rice, which are not yet in place, must not disadvantage United Kingdom millers of high quality rice.

The council also discussed a Commission proposal to revise the agrimonetary regime. In the absence of an opinion from the European Parliament, no formal decision could be taken. But it was established that a qualified majority of the council existed in favour of a presidency compromise proposal which the Commission was prepared to support. I voted against this revised proposal because, although it abolished the potentially expensive and inflationary switchover mechanism which I strongly welcome, it also introduced unduly complex and potentially costly replacement arrangements to protect farmers in strong-currency countries against currency-induced falls in incomes. Denmark also voted against. The Commission tabled a proposal to prolong the present regime until 31 January 1995 pending a European Parliament opinion on the substantive proposal.

The council held a further discussion of the Commission¹s proposal on the welfare of animals in transit but was unable to reach agreement. I shall continue to press for strong and effective Community measures. But meanwhile I am introducing improved national measures to help fill the gap resulting from the absence of agreement by the council.

I voted against a council decision to continue the moratorium on bovine somatotropin until 31 December 1999 as this was without scientific justification. The decision was, however, adopted by qualified majority.

The Agriculture Commissioner, Rene Steichen, tabled a report supporting the case, for which the United Kingdom has long argued, for allowing land entered into environmental set-aside or woodland to be counted, under certain conditions, against the farmer¹s compulsory market set-aside requirement. The council committed itself to taking an early decision on this matter.

The council adopted unanimously proposals providing for continuation of New Zealand butter access to the United Kingdom and for continuation of sheepmeat imports from various third countries under existing voluntary restraint agreements. In both cases, these regulations apply until 30 June 1995 when they will be superseded by the GATT Uruguay round provisions.

Directive amending the fresh meat hygiene directive and milk hygiene directive, were agreed by qualified majority. On meat hygiene, I abstained, whilst the Dutch and Portuguese delegations opposed. The outcome on milk hygiene was generally highly satisfactory; however, I abstained because there were no provisions to permit the continued double pasteurisation of skimmed milk.

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Finally, I am particularly delighted to report that the council agreed unanimously a new directive on minced meat and meat preparations directive which protects traditional British products including the British banger.