Urgent action needed on milk crisis - Lyon

4.33.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 21st Jul 2009

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has urged the European Commission to take urgent action to ensure milk producers get better return from the market place.

Attending the first meeting of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Mr Lyon heard how Commission officials were trying to tackle the milk crisis in Europe.

George Lyon MEPCommenting after the meeting, Mr Lyon said:

“The dairy industry across Europe is in crisis with prices crashing to an all time low. The Commissions actions to date are only a sticking plaster that stores up future problems for the industry.

“The absolute failure of supermarkets to pass a fair share of the milk price on to dairy farmers is a key issue. The survival of the industry is wholly dependant on the Commission taking urgent action to tackle this problem.

“The UK Government has dragged its heels over the introduction of a supermarket ombudsman. The Commission should take the lead and introduce a European ombudsman to tackle the overwhelming power of supermarkets.”