This will now lay out the basis for further negotiations on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the coming months.
NFU sugar board chairman William Martin said: “NFU Sugar has worked hard on behalf of farmers to make sure the position of our industry is heard and well understood by MEPs.
"We are therefore delighted that they have responded positively to our requests and recognised that the European beet sector would face damaging upheaval if the Commission’s proposals to end the regime in 2015 came to fruition.
“Of utmost importance and greatest significance for NFU Sugar and our growers, is that the right to be represented in contractual negotiations by a single body through the powers of an inter-professional agreement, has been supported by the members of the Agricultural Committee. This safeguard is vital to give growers the necessary balance in the market as there is an only one purchaser and processor of sugar beet in this country.
“The Agriculture Committee’s position, which will now go forward for a vote by the full European Parliament, reflects the NFU view that growers need a period of stability following the last major reform of the CAP sugar regime which saw the UK sugar beet industry go through a major restructuring.”
