Pigmeat: common organisation of the markets

The Parliament voted 310 to 188 with 33 abstentions in favour of a resolution, drafted by Mr Georges GAROT (PES, F), approving with non-binding amendments a Commission proposal to reform the organisation of the market in pigmeat by authorising the Member States to provide start up aid for a special fund for pig farmers to be financed by the farmers themselves through payment of a levy. The scheme would be voluntary and only farmers prepared not to increase production over a five year period would participate. The amendments approved seek to make the scheme mandatory but participation optional with funding to be provided from the EU budget on a co-financing basis. Another amendment seeks to ensure that the launch aid from the EU to cover the administrative costs setting-up the scheme is provided. Furthermore, in a period of recession the regulatory fund shall provide 100% intervention per farm in respect of the first 2000 pigs slaughtered in the cource of the year, in the case of pig breeders/fatteners and pig breeders; the first 100 sows present over the year, in the case of specialist breeder farmers. Over and above these ceilings, the funds shall, for each farm, bear the costs relating to 75% of the pigs slaughtered or of the sows present. If a pig farmer provides proof that he has reduced his production by 25% during the recession, the fund shall cover 100% of his production after the reduction. �