The final date to end quotas was first decided in 2003 in order to provide EU producers with more flexibility to respond to growing demand, especially on the world market. It was reconfirmed in 2008 with a range of measures aimed at achieving a "soft landing". Even with quotas, EU dairy exports have increased by 45% in volume and 95% in value in the last 5 years. Market projections indicate that the prospects for further growth remain strong – in particular for added-value products, such as cheese, but also for ingredients used in nutritional, sports and dietary products.
Speaking ahead of the end of the quota regime, EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Phil Hogan stated: "The end of the milk quota regime is both a challenge and an opportunity for the Union. It is a challenge because an entire generation of dairy farmers will have to live under completely new circumstances and volatility will surely accompany them along the road. But it certainly is an opportunity in terms of growth and jobs. Through increased focus on valued added products as well as on ingredients for "functional" food, the dairy sector has the potential of being an economic driver for the EU. More vulnerable areas where the end of the quota system may be regarded as a threat can benefit from the pallet of rural development measures following the subsidiarity principle."
The end of milk quotas
On 31 March 2015 the EU milk quota regime comes to an end. On this page you will find a selection of relevant information around this event.
- Press conference on "A new CAP for more growth: the end of milk quotas":
Overview
First introduced in 1984 at a time when EU production far outstripped demand, the milk quota regime was one of the tools introduced for overcoming these structural surpluses.
Successive reforms of the EU's Common Agriculture Policy have increased the market-orientation of the sector and, in parallel, provided a range of other, more targeted instruments to help support producers in vulnerable areas, such as mountain areas where the costs of production are higher.
The final date to end quotas was first decided in 2003 in order to provide EU producers with more flexibility to respond to growing demand, especially on the world market.
It was reconfirmed in 2008 with a range of measures aimed at achieving a "soft landing".
Even with quotas, EU dairy exports have increased by 45% in volume and 95% in value in the last 5 years.
Market projections indicate that the prospects for further growth remain strong – in particular for added-value products, such as cheese, but also for ingredients used in nutritional, sports and dietary products.
>> Watch "A short history of milk quotas in the EU"
>> More detailed historical timeline
Short video clips
Milk Market Observatory (MMO)
The aim of the MMO - introduced in April 2014 - is to provide the EU dairy sector with more transparency by means of disseminating market data and short-term analysis in a timely mannerand to foster the dialogue between market analysts along the milk supply chain.
>> Go to the MMO
Milk market situation
Monthly updated slide-show.
>> Go to the latest update 
[2 MB]
Short-term outlook for EU arable crops, dairy and meat markets
Based on reflections of market experts within the European Commission, using the latest data available.
>> Go to the Winter 2015 edition
[755 KB] 
