Paris refuses to drain milk

French agriculture minister Didier Guillaume calls on the European Commission to take 'urgent measures' to guide the dairy market through the corona crisis. "It is impossible that we let milk run away".

Guillaume is committed to helping the agricultural sector, an important pillar of the French economy, through the crisis. On Sunday, the minister announced in an interview on the television channel France3 that France, unlike India, for example, Canada, America and the Britons, do not rinse away milk.

"My hair stands on end when I read that dairy farmers let good milk run away, that is unacceptable. I am arguing in Brussels for strict measures and support for the sector and I will not give," said the minister.

Call to Brussels
According to Guillaume, it is Brussels' responsibility to support the market. He therefore advocates storage and the possibility that cheese factories can store the stock. When asked about a possible return of the milk quota, the Agriculture Minister was clear: "The quota no longer exists and will not return."

France's main agricultural organisation, FNSEA, would like to see Brussels encourage declining milk production. The organization has proposed a package of regulations encouraging dairy farmers to reduce the volume of milk by 2 to 5% during the peak period.

French measures
Since the outbreak of the corona crisis, France has already introduced several measures to help agriculture. Guillaume calls on (temporary) unemployed people to make themselves available on agricultural companies. "Our farmers are short of manpower, help them", was the appeal of the French agriculture minister.

When it comes to incoming bills, agricultural entrepreneurs are also given a postponement of the energy bill and other utilities. Taxes and premiums can also remain in place for a while. Smaller companies and freelancers that see 70% or more of their turnover disappear as a result of the corona crisis will receive a one-off payment of €3.500 from the government. A scheme for short-time working and a guarantee for agricultural credits has also been taken out of the closet. 

In addition to these measures, the Agriculture Minister calls on the French to buy as many homegrown products as possible. This appeal has not fallen on deaf ears, supermarkets are responding immediately.

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