Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the volume of milk permitted to be sold directly by farmers to the consumer; the relevant criteria which must be met to avail of this entitlement; the way his interpretation of this EU directive permitting direct farmer to consumer sales of liquid milk compares with the interpretation and implementation of this directive in other EU countries, specifically regarding the volume of milk permitted to be sold on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17234/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's Direct Sales Quota for 2008/2009 was 2,146,481 kgs, which equates to 0.04% of Ireland's total national quota. For the EU as a whole, 2.28% of total quota is allocated to direct sales. All Member states with the exception of one (Romania) have a quota allocation that is greater in Deliveries than Direct Sales. Malta has no quota allocated to Direct Sales. In order to sell milk directly to the consumer, a milk producer would need to allocate part or all of his/her quota to Direct Sales and satisfy dairy hygiene requirements.

In Ireland, the volume of milk sold directly to the consumer has reduced substantially in recent years. During the 2002/2003 quota year, milk sales accounted for 38.63% of dairy products sold directly to the consumer. The corresponding figure for the 2007/2008 quota year was 8.78%. The volume of quota allocated to Direct Sales reduced by 76.86% between 2002/03 and 2007/08.