Europe’s sugar refiners call for future common agriculture policy

Brussels, 05 September 2011 – Europe’s sugar refiners call for future Common Agriculture Policy to provide fair access to raw sugar at competitive prices and permanently remove the CXL import duty

“It is essential that European cane sugar refiners have fair access to sufficient raw sugar at competitive prices in order to remain sustainable,” said João Pereira, Chairman of the European Sugar Refiners’ Association (ESRA) during the presentation of ESRA’s position on the EU Common Agricultural Policy post 2013.

ESRA asks that raw sugar be available at a competitive market orientated price that is not artificially inflated by EU legislation. Pereira continues. “What we cannot accept is further volatility and price inflation that results from EU legislation artificially restricting supply or allowing speculators to become involved in the supply chain for our raw material.”

Also, ESRA urges the Commission to permanently abolish the CXL sugar import duty of €98 per tonne. The CXL duty was established at a time when EU institutional prices were set much higher and world prices were generally lower. “Given today’s lower EU institutional prices and higher world prices, only the removal of the duty will ensure predictable and economically viable access to raw cane sugar,” Pereira concludes.

About ESRA ESRA, the European Sugar Refiners’ Association, was created at the end of 2010. It represents the interest of full-time cane sugar refiners in Europe.

Cane sugar refiners play a key role in the European sugar market. They contribute to food security by diversifying the raw material base. They help deliver competition and market orientation by creating a linkage with the outside world. They satisfy a market demand for cane sugars. And they also provide high quality manufacturing employment, often in areas of high deprivation.

For further information, or to schedule an interview, please contact the ESRA Secretariat.

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