Import not stopped
As the Union states – In view of the ministerial refusal to suspend imports from Germany, where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth illness was discovered in January, and given the import bans imposed by many countries including the United Kingdom, there is simply a serious hazard of increased deliveries to Poland (which could affect prices) and thus possible embargoes of meat products originating in Poland to another countries. Both EU and national assistance requires the approval of the European Commission. As we have heard from the Sejm Committee, the European Commission has been asked to grant specified exceptional assistance to farmers. For these reasons, we ask for a copy of this speech, so as to reassure the breeders that this assurance was not unspeakable.
Swine price decreases
The hotel made available a copy of the speech by Minister Czesław Siekierski of 10 February to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food (Christophe Hansen), which reads:
in view of the hard situation on the pigmeat marketplace in Poland, in view of the progressive fall in prices not covering production costs, it is essential for the European Commission to decide on the launch of exceptional financial assistance for pig producers.
I am aware of seasonal changes in price trends, which are characteristic of the pork marketplace and the reaction of the marketplace in the first weeks of this year after the discovery of foot-and-mouth illness in Germany, but at the current price level, production regardless of its scale generates losses in farms in Poland that prevent their further functioning.
The fall in pig prices in Poland is the largest in the EU market. In the 5th week of this year, the average acquisition price for pigs in class E on the Polish marketplace was 165.70 EUR/100 kg and was lower than the average Union price by 7.4%. The current price of pigs in Poland is lower by 18% per year and decreased by almost 11% within a month.
I would like to point out that In Poland, the relations between livestock prices and feed prices for cattle have been in decline since May last year, and these adverse relations have deepened even more recently.
Poland reported a problem
Poland reported the problem of low prices and non-profitability of production at the last gathering of the Expert Group on the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets – Products The animals on 23 January besides asked for an assessment of the possibilities for the Commission to take remedial action. The Commission confirmed a deeper fall in prices in any EU countries, including Poland, but, in the context of a possible reaction on the market, indicated average prices which it considered not to be eligible for action in support of the pigmeat market.
Response is needed
In our opinion, however, The situation on the Polish marketplace requires a reaction to financial support for pig producers.
In Poland, during a prolonged period of low acquisition prices for pigs, pig producers are forced to bear very advanced costs of means of production and the consequences of veterinary restrictions imposed in connection with the request to control and prevent the spread of African swine fever. Further deterioration of the maker margins poses a real hazard of abandoning the production of subsequent farms.
Request for emergency aid
In view of the above, I ask the Commissioner to launch an exceptional financial assistance for pig producers in Poland, pursuant to Article 219(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council1, to at least partially compensate for the deficiency of profitability of production caused by a crucial fall in the prices of pigs listed on the market.
