§ Mr. Mark RobinsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 17 February; and if he will make a statement. [16858]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office, represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture Council in Brussels on 17 February.
The main business of the Council was to consider the Commission's proposed regulations establishing a system of identification and registration of cattle, together with a linked proposal on the labelling of beef and beef products. The importance to the United Kingdom of early progress on the setting up of an EU-wide animal identification and registration system was emphasised in the Council discussions, subject to the proposal being technically sound and workable. However, my noble Friend expressed reservations about the practicability of the proposed funding arrangements. The presidency informed the Council that further work would continue urgently on these proposals with a view to the Council being in a position to reach agreement if possible at its March meeting.
Prompted by discussion papers tabled by the Italian and United Kingdom Governments, the Council held a wide-ranging debate on the future of the Common Market organisation in milk and milk products, in particular the future of the EU milk quota regime. The United Kingdom pressed for early progress on reforming the milk regime in view of World Trade Organisation and budgetary constraints, as well as the prospect of future EU enlargement. In the light of the Council discussion, the 629W European Commission undertook to bring forward shortly a detailed analysis of the milk sector and ideas for possible changes to the milk quota regime.
The Council held a brief discussion on the situation in the beef and veal sector, in particular on the early marketing and calf processing schemes. My noble Friend took the opportunity to press for a reduction in the rates of payment under the calf processing scheme which, at their present levels, risked creating distortions in the market.
The Agriculture Commissioner presented reports to the Council on options for reform of the EU market regimes for tobacco and olive oil. Legislative proposals will be made to the Council in the near future on changes to the tobacco regime. The Council will consider in detail the options for reforming the olive oil regime at its forthcoming meetings.