The latest figures from the European Commission show that Ireland offered 723t of SMP on the week beginning 11 January, and increase of 553t from the week previous.

Last week, the observatory report indicated that Ireland was back offering SMP to public intervention after a three month long break. Ireland offered 170t on the week beginning January 4, the first time since early October.

In January alone (so far), Ireland has offered almost half of what it offered in 2015. Ireland offered 1843t to public intervention in 2015.

This comes in line with other member states also increasing product offered. For instance, the UK has used intervention for the first time in five months.

Intervention flows from the 28 EU member states have steadily crept up over the last few weeks, with a combined quantity of 11,868t of SMP offered to public intervention so far this January.

Read more

Ireland back supplying skimmed milk powder to EU intervention scheme