EU farm ministers agree sheep sector reform
Date: 20-Dec-01
Country: EU
"This will be a very big improvement," EU Farm Commissioner Franz
Fischler told a news conference following the EU meeting.
"It will be easier to calculate, clearer, and sheep farmers will now
know what to expect," Fischler added.
Britain, home to a third of the EU's sheep flock, could use the new
system, which also gives members states flexibility over how they manage
production, to cut sheep numbers in the wake of the foot-and-mouth
disease crisis, officials say.
"Part of the funding is earmarked for dealing with specific problems in
member states," Fischler said.
The British government believes the UK has too many sheep, particularly
on certain upland pastures, and blames high numbers for environmental
damage caused by over-grazing.
The new policy was prompted by a Commission study which showed the
previous system to be inefficient and flawed.
Sheep and goat farming, the smallest of the EU's animal sectors, was
left out of the last shake-up of the Common Agricultural Policy in 1999,
which focused on beef and cereals, cutting guaranteed prices and
boosting farmers' direct aid.
