Europe to support poultry farmers hit by bird flu
EU - The European Union is set today to approve special funding for poultry farmers who are suffering from falling prices and demand as the spread of bird flu scares consumers away from chicken, turkey and other fowl.Some 320,000 tons of unmarketable poultry meat are in cold storage across the 25-nation EU.
On average, prices have fallen by 13% but the situation varies from one EU member state to another, EU spokesman Michael Mann said on the eve of a meeting of EU agriculture ministers. “There is a crisis of (consumer) confidence,” he said.
Consumption is down by 5% in Denmark and Finland but by as much as 40% in Cyprus, 50% in Italy and 70% in Greece, according to EU data.
The agriculture ministers are expected to allow governments to provide relief funding for poultry farmers hit by the bird flu scare, with the EU paying half of those subsidies.
Source: Irish Examiner
25 April 2006
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