OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association

ICMSA

ICMSA is a farm organisation representing approximately 18,000 dairy farmers in Ireland and our role is to represent their interests in all matters of policy that impact on their business.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus

14 Oct 2025

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) represents all Irish farmersparticularly dairy and livestock farmers and we place a special emphasis on preserving the family farm structure and defending the rights and incomes of farm families. We were formed in 1950 and have spent the last 75 years defending and advocating on behalf of Irish farmers at Irish and European level. The ICMSA welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the current consultation regarding simplification. While the publication largely focuses on areas such as pesticides, diseases, and feed additives, ICMSA believes it is equally important to highlight other areas within agriculture where simplification would deliver significant benefits. Please also see our full submission attached.
Read full response

Response to Roadmap towards Nature Credits

30 Sept 2025

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) represents all Irish farmersparticularly dairy and livestock farmers and we place a special emphasis on preserving the family farm structure and defending the rights and incomes of farm families. We were formed in 195) and have spent the last 75 years defending and advocating on behalf of Irish farmers at Irish and European level. The establishment of nature credits is something that worries farmers as they are unaware of how it will affect them into the future. This primarily due to the dependence on land and nature for our livelihoods. Any change in policies or incentives can have detrimental effect on our livelihoods. With this in mind, we ask the following points are noted in the development of any system for nature credits Food Production Prioritisation A nature or carbon credit system must not undermine food production or food security The introduction of a Nature Credit system must allow productive food producing farmers to continue without the need to purchase credits if they are producing food. A nature credit system must be available to farmers as an income source and not a cost. Establish Clear Definitions and Standards Recommend the development a standardised framework for defining nature-positive outcomes, co-created with farmers, local stakeholders, and scientists. An EU Nature Credits Registry if established must ensure consistency and transparency across Member States. Develop Robust Metrics and Indicators There should be grounded metrics that reflect biodiversity health, ecosystem functionality, and resilience while allowing farmers to farm. Address Data Gaps Proactively We would recommend investment in ecological data infrastructure, including remote sensing and long-term monitoring. ICMSA Propose a precautionary principal approach where data is lacking, to avoid unintended harm on farmers who are using the land. Ensure Independent Oversight and Certification There should be an independent certification bodies with farming expertise. A transparent audit trail for all credits, including public access to verification reports. Avoid Greenwashing There must not be situation where corporate entities can purchase/acquire land to offset their enterprises and out compete farmers ability to produce food or acquire that land to produce food. Strengthen Monitoring and Enforcement A mandatory long-term monitoring protocol for all credit-generating projects. Promote Equity and Inclusion A credit schemes include social safeguards to protect the rights and livelihoods of farmers, fishers, and local communities. Support Regulatory Demand Drivers An impact assessment comparing voluntary vs. mandatory schemes to guide policy design. Pilot and Evaluate Before Scaling ICMSA suggest launching regional pilot programmes to test credit mechanisms in ecosystems. A review and learning cycle to refine the approach before full EU-wide implementation.
Read full response

Meeting with Maria Walsh (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Oct 2024 · Agriculture Policy

Meeting with Nina Carberry (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Oct 2024 · Agricultural Priorities for 2024-2029

Meeting with Seán Kelly (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Oct 2024 · Agricultural priorities for the coming mandate

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner) and

15 Oct 2024 · food security and CAP budget

Meeting with Wolfgang Burtscher (Director-General Agriculture and Rural Development)

5 Jul 2023 · CAP, agricultural markets and environmental sustainability

Meeting with Seán Kelly (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Jul 2023 · Agricultural Policy

Meeting with Chris Macmanus (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Jul 2023 · Priorities on agricultural issues including CAP reform, Nature restoration, FTAs (meeting taken by staff)

Meeting with Grace O'Sullivan (Member of the European Parliament)

5 Jul 2023 · Irish agriculture work at EU level

Meeting with Chris Macmanus (Member of the European Parliament)

23 Jun 2022 · Issues facing the Irish dairy sector

Response to Application of EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products

21 Feb 2022

Imported agricultural goods must be held to the same standards as products produced within the European Union. Currently, imported products must comply with appropriate health standards however they do not have to meet European environmental and animal welfare standards. It is inexplicable to have a standard that agricultural producers must meet to sell their product within the EU and then import the same goods that do not have to meet the European standards. Therefore it is essential that all imported agricultural products are upheld to the same standards as European-produced products.
Read full response

Response to Minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market

19 Feb 2020

ICMSA is a farm organisation that represents the interests of dairy and livestock farmers in Ireland. In response to the roadmap “Minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market”, ICMSA would like to highlight the contradiction in EU policy where the EU states its intention to protect forests while at the same time allows the importation of food from countries outside the EU with minimal environmental standards and is also promoting the ratification of a Mercosur trade deal. Beef imports to the EU from Mercusor countries were almost 270,000 tonnes in 2018. The Mercosur trade deal would allow 99,000 tonnes into the EU on a reduced tariff. To meet this demand, forests are being cleared in South America. Additionally, beef production in the EU is struggling to remain competitive against the value of imports from this region given that EU farmers must meet substantially higher environmental and other standards. ICMSA is proposing that the EU investigate the real impact of beef imports from South America on deforestation rates in that region and that the Mercosur trade deal should be withdrawn given the negative environmental implications of the agreement. If the EU is serious about addressing deforestation and forest degradation, specific standards need to be applied and these must be applied to imported food as well as EU produced food. If the standard is not met, then that product should not be allowed trade on the EU market.
Read full response

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

7 Dec 2019 · Ceremonial event

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

28 Mar 2019 · Agri Matters

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

1 Dec 2018 · Speak at annual meeting

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

2 Feb 2018 · Agriculture matters

Response to Initiative to improve the Food Supply Chain

21 Aug 2017

A properly functioning food supply chain in the EU is central to ensuring that EU farmers receive a fair share of the final consumer price and an income comparable with other sectors. Farmers have consistently lost out – in particular due to the concentration of market power upstream and downstream and an unequal bargaining position among the various parties along the food supply chain. With the continuing growth and concentration of firms at the farm input stage, food processing and food retailing, the pendulum has swung even more to the detriment of farmers in recent times. Overall, although prices on food commodity markets are above historical levels, the agricultural margins and incomes will not grow from the current low levels due to higher input costs and increasing price and production risks. In addition, the relatively weak position of farmers in the food chain invariably means that they bear a disproportionate share of the risks within the chain. The key to improving margins for farmers is to bring about a proper functioning EU food supply chain both at processing and at retailing levels. There is quite considerable agreement, right across the political spectrum, in virtually every Member State, that the EU food market is not operating efficiently or fairly and that farmer and consumers both lose out. The future requirement for a detailed economic and statistical examination and report on the level and trends in the margins enjoyed by the EU food retailing sector particularly in the case of multinational retailing firms is essential. ICMSA welcome the publication of this impact assessment as an important milestone in providing the necessary rules backed up by EU legislation to bring about better regulation of the EU food market and thereby protect and enhance the position of farmers, individually and as groups, within the agri-food value chain. The three main issues stated in the impact assessment which require action are clearly stated as unfair trading practices (UTP), market transparency and possibilities for farmers to cooperate. ICMSA particularly welcome the emphasis placed on market transparency and the current state of affairs in relation to UTPs and the impact on cross border trade. ICMSA supports the logical conclusion that EU level measures are required due to the patchwork of Member State legislation or voluntary codes which have limited if any impact on internal or cross-border trade. Clearly, Ireland has a major interest in the proper and transparent functioning of EU agri-food markets and ICMSA believes this is a major step forward. UTP's Option 1 is not a real option. Option 2 which effectively would leave the issue to Member States is seriously flawed in so far as it does not deal with cross border trade within the EU and is totally inappropriate for a single market. Indeed, not alone would it be ineffective in addressing UTPs, but a patchwork of national measures to address UTPs may themselves become a barrier to trade. Option 3 and option 4 overlap to some extent. However, ICMSA would favour Option 3 as it provides for greater harmonisation and uniformity as well as co-operation mechanisms for Member State enforcement authorities and thus would have trans-frontier applicability which is essential to cover trade within the EU. With regard to producer co-operation, ICMSA agree with Option 2. With respect to market transparency, Option two is required to provide the necessary data to provide greater standardisation. ICMSA would like to add that the burden of complying with the additional information which would be required of commercial operators would be relatively small given that this information is already collected by these operators. ICMSA agree with the broad thrust of this initial assessment. Reference should be made to increased consumer welfare which would arise directly and indirectly from a properly operating and efficient food sector in the EU
Read full response

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

20 Apr 2017 · CAP

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

20 Mar 2017 · AGRI matters

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

27 Nov 2015 · Agriculture Issues

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

7 Oct 2015 · Business Discussion

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner) and

2 Dec 2014 · Milk price pressures for 2015, superlevy fines, measures to support to dairy farmers, TTIP