site.btaAgriculture Minister Asks Brussels to Support Bulgarian Dairy Farmers

Agriculture Minister Asks Brussels to Support Bulgarian Dairy Farmers

Brussels/Sofia, March 16 (BTA) - Bulgarian Agriculture and Food
Minister Dessislava Tanova Monday urged Brussels to take urgent
measures to overcome the crisis in Bulgarian dairy farming
caused by the Russian embargo and the end of the quota system,
Tanova's Ministry said. She was speaking at a regular meeting of
the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels.

Taneva said that there has been a steady decline of the price of
milk for 12 months now and the measures that the European
Commission has taken to support the sector EU-wide are
inapplicable in Bulgaria. She reiterated support for a proposal
made jointly with Romania at a Council meeting in January for
additional measures on the milk market for dealing with the
aftermath of the Russian embargo. "These measures will also
bring about a smoother transition from the quota system to a
free market in the conditions of a ban on exports to Russia,"
the Minister reportedly said.

She urged her counterparts to participate in the preparation of
a document that will include a package of measures in support of
the dairy sector, reflecting the specificity of each member
state.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council also discussed new rules
on organic production and labeling. Bulgaria expressed support
for the idea for annual checks of organic producers.