Milk production down as farmers move out of the sector

Maltese farmers produced over a thousand tonnes of milk less last year compared to the previous year, according to details published by the European Commission yesterday.

The reduction in the production of raw milk is being attributed to the number of farmers who moved out of the sector in the past 12 months, following the enforcement of more stringent hygiene rules by the EU. During the last marketing year, ending at the end of last March, there were 143 milk producers in Malta, nine fewer compared to the previous 12 months.

This led to milk production slipping from 41,237 tonnes in 2006/2007 to 40,085 tonnes last year.

Last January, the government gave 14 farmers supplying milk to the Malta Dairy Products (MDP) a three-month warning to either put their house in order or forfeit their permits.

According to the Ministry for Rural Affairs, the majority of the farmers involved brought their farms up to date with EU rules while the rest decided to close shop.

Malta's quota is 48,698 tonnes although no real shortage of milk or its derivative products has been reported.

According to EU rules, cow's milk is marketed on the basis of quotas initially introduced in order to achieve a balance between supply and demand and curb surpluses.

Producers who overrun their quota have to pay a surplus levy in the member state concerned.

The quota system will be abolished from 2015.