Dairy farmers once again in conflict with Lactalis.
At the call of the FNSEA and Young Farmers, several of them gathered in front of several Lactalis sites in the West to denounce the price of milk set by the dairy industrial group based in Mayenne, which they consider too low. and contrary to the law.
The farmers gathered on “
five different sites
” in Mayenne where the group has its headquarters, assures Samuel Gouel, president of the milk section of the agricultural union FSDSEA 53, in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“
We are here to denounce this irresponsible attitude of the group on a unilateral decision of a price paid to the producer of 405 euros
” for 1000 liters, he indicates.
According to him, this price “
does not take into account at all the Egalim law
” which provides for “
the negotiation and integration of the production costs of milk leaving our farms
”.
Twenty-five tractors were gathered in front of the Lactalis site in Bouvron, in Loire-Atlantique, according to an AFP photographer.
According to the police, less than ten people were present in front of the Lactalis headquarters in Laval, or in Craon (Mayenne).
A gathering planned in Orne was canceled due to the weather.
Read alsoContaminated infant milk: Lactalis demands 1 billion euros from the Eurofins analysis laboratory
Something new since the Egalim law of 2018
The 2018 Egalim law provides that the price of milk paid by companies takes into account the production costs of breeders.
Currently, the price of milk "
is far from the needs of breeders in view of the evolution of production costs and the investments necessary to maintain their activity and attract young people
", according to a recent press release from the dairy section of the Regional Federation of Western Farmers' Unions (FRSEAO).
“
It is always the balance of power which is the reference in the negotiation of the price of milk (…) in the face of an omnipotent international industrialist
,” she denounces.
Lactalis indicated in January that it wanted “
the continuation of discussions, within the legal framework and the provisions provided for by the Egalim laws which the company has always respected
”.
“
The challenge for Lactalis France is to find a fair balance on the price of milk in order to maintain accessible prices for consumers tomorrow
,” according to a press release.