EU proposes measures to stabilize dairy market

"We have to do all we can to help our milk producers, who are having to deal with a dramatic fall in prices," said Mariann Fischer Boel, European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The commission said it will continue to use instruments such as intervention, private storage aid and export refunds to help diary producers. It also will allow direct payments to farmers to be paid early and has launched a new round of dairy promotion programs.

EU member states also have the ability to redistribute aid to the dairy sector under an agreement reached last year involving the alliance's common agriculture policy.

The Commission is continuing an examination of potential anti-competitive practices in the food supply chain, especially in the dairy sector; Kazinform has learnt from Xinhua.

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