EU milk quotas will become history at the end of this month.<br /><br />They were introduced in 1984 to prevent excess production and stabilise prices.<br /><br />European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan said: “The abolition of the quotas will obviously always raise issues about price volatility but we continue to have market mechanisms available tools in the event of a serious crisis. There will be a new financial instrument available in all member states if they wish to draw down with the help of the European Investment Bank for the restructuring of the dairy industry.”<br /><br />Small dairy farmers say they will be unable to compete. They are planning to hold a protest outside the European Parliament on Tuesday to voice their disgust at the changes.
