Surplus food storage
The Minister reported EC intervention stocks of 12.02 million tonnes, valued at 8,751 million ECU, with 542 million ECU in 1984 storage charges; Ireland held 309,000 tonnes valued at 679 million ECU and received 35 million ECU in storage reimbursements. He agreed that donating stocks to starving countries could save storage costs but said it would depress producer prices; he could not estimate deterioration rates, and members noted the impact on farmers’ returns.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will specify the quantity, value and cost of storage of surplus food in Ireland and in the EEC.
Comment on this
The total quantity of public intervention stocks of agricultural products held by the EC at the end of 1984 was 12.02 million tonnes valued at 8,751 million ECU. The storage charges reimbursed to member states in 1984 amounted to 542 million ECU.
The comparable figures for Ireland were 309,000 tonnes valued at 679 million ECU £494 million, while storage charges reimbursed in 1984 amounted to 35 million ECU £26 million.
Comment on this
Would the Minister not agree that enormous sums of money in storage costs would be saved if this were shipped to African countries where millions of people are starving?
Comment on this
Of course I do, but who will pay for it? That is the consideration I have to take into account. We sell these products, even if they are in storage for a considerable period, but if we were to give them away the prices being paid to our producers would be very low, if not nil, and I do not think anyone would tolerate that situation.
