Outcome of Debate on EU Pig Sector Towards 2020

EU - Last Friday (3 December), representatives from the European Commission and from a range of stakeholders from the Member States gathered for a 'Reflection Day' to develop key actions and tools for a sustainable and competitive European pork industry. Key pork chain partners, COPA/COGECA, UECBV and FEFAC, report their viewpoint of the meeting organised by the Flemish Minister President, Kris Peeters.

9 December 2010

3 minute read

The representatives of the European farmers organisations, the meat industry and the feed industry highlighted the case for a comprehensive action plan seeking to move the EU pig sector out of the present crisis situation. They also insisted on the need to take a long-term approach to reinforce the long-term viability of the pig sector enhancing its capacity to supply sustainable, competitive pork to consumers in the EU and on world markets.

They are proposing the following short-term, mid-term and long-term measures to maintain and develop the EU pork sector's position as a world leader.

Short-term actions to overcome the present market crisis
- Strengthen effective market management tools and put measures in place to reduce excessive price volatility for the pig sector both for feed and meat and meat products.
- Implement an EU-wide protein plan to ensure adequate supplies of protein-rich feed to pig farmers at competitive prices, including
  - incentives to increase vegetable protein production in the EU
  - the adoption of a GM 'technical solution'
  - the lifting of the ban on processed animal proteins in pig feed
- No hampering of competitiveness by imposing restrictive measures that EU cannot impose on third countries.
Mid-term actions to improve competitiveness and profitability of the pig sector
- Grant pork 'sensitive product' status in any ongoing or upcoming EU trade negotiation
- Ensure a level-playing field with third-country competitors.
- Increase efforts to capture and increase market share for EU pork exports in growth markets, particularly in South-East Asia.
Long-term actions to ensure sustainability and viability of pork production in the EU
- Foster product innovation and modernisation in the pork production value chain
- Focus on private and public R&D programmes seeking to improve the knowledge base and to develop and adapt new technologies and their dissemination in the EU pig sector.