Germany continues butter and SMP intervention

The import ban imposed by the Russian government in August 2014 on certain products from the EU has had a very negative effect on the dairy sector. In Germany the Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (Federal ministry for food and agriculture, BLE) has recognized that the prices for dairy products are still not satisfactory.

To secure the farmers and dairies economically, rules were made for intervention during 2014, so public and private storage could secure the prices of butter and skimmed milk until the end of the year. As the desired, positive effect has not shown yet, BLE has decided to prolong the offer to buy up butter and skimmed milk powder for public storage into the new year.

As prices continue to come under pressure, the period of validity the private storage of butter and skimmed milk powder has been extended until 28 February 2015.