Butter import case sets a boost

Press, 2 July 1986, Page 2

Butter import case sets a boost

By

PETER O’HARA

NZPA staff correspondent Kenilworth New Zealand’s case for butter imports to Europe got a boost from the British Minister of Agriculture, Mr Michael Jopling, yesterday. Mr Jopling told reporters at the Royal Agricultural Show that Britain had a “serious obligation” to New Zealand, and its butter access for the next two years should be at the levels recommended by the European Commission in 1984. “I think the British

people in general would not understand if we were to pull the rug out from under New Zealand. There are great links, not a few of them links created with blood in two world wars, and it makes the people of this country always anxious to do what they believe is right for New Zealand.” Mr Jopling’s comments took on added significance because Britain assumes the presidency of the E.E.C. today, and he will chair the European Agriculture Ministers’ meeting which may decide the butter access

next month. But his view was countered by that of the European Commissioner responsible for agriculture, Mr Frans Andriessen. Mr Andriessen, a Dutchman, told a separate press conference that market conditions had changed since the commission previously recommended that New Zealand should be able to import 77,000 tonnes of butter to Europe next year, and 75,000 tonnes in 1988. New Zealand Cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, have visited Europe in recent months backing the resurrection of that proposal. But Mr Andriessen noted that conditions were attached to the previous decision — not finalised then because of Irish opposition. “The decision said that if market conditions changed considerably these figures could be reconsidered. You cannot deny that the market situation has changed, throughout the Community and in the United Kingdom in particular,” Mr Andriessen said. “Objectively you could say that the conditions in the decision of 1984 are fulfilled. “I do hope we will be able to make concrete proposals at very short notice.” He did not exclude proposals being decided by the commission (a group of bureaucrats) for the Ministers in the next few days.