The Regional Secretary for Natural Resources, Luís Neto Viveiros, revealed today that the Government of the Azores will conduct a study on the impact of the end of the milk quota system in the Region that will be co-funded by the Rural Network programme at a rate of 85%.

"It has been our concern since the beginning of the current legislative period to have a study that would allow us take the appropriate decisions in terms of policies for the near future in order to face the dismantling of the milk quota system," stated Luís Neto Viveiros in Ponta Delgada.

The Regional Secretary spoke to journalists at the end of a hearing with Commission on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly, where he addressed the recommendations made by CDS-PP to the Regional Government regarding the commissioning of a study to the University of the Azores (UAç).

"We have prepared the tender specifications and the proposals will be requested to companies and the university as well. We insist on doing so in order to achieve the best financial conditions for the timely completion of this work," said the government official.

With an estimated cost between 100 and 120 thousand Euros and co-funded at 85% by Community funds and 15% by national funds, the tender specifications for the study estimate a completion period of six months. Hence, the Regional Secretary expects that the study becomes available by August or September. According to him, this work is a "decisive tool for taking decisions" in the milk sector, from production to marketing.

With regard to another draft resolution presented by CDS-PP concerning the prohibition of public support to permanent housing of cattle in farms, Luís Neto Viveiros considered that the Region's "situation is balanced."

"Of the 999 applications for support to permanent housing of cattle in farms that were submitted to the Azorean Government during the current Community Support Framework and in the context of animal husbandry production, only four were approved: one on Graciosa and three on Terceira," revealed the government official.

However, the Regional Secretary for Natural Resources said that it will not be advisable "to completely prevent future requests for permanent housing of cattle in farms as long as the site conditions and viability of these farms allow it."