BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - A European Union committee will vote on Thursday on whether to open a new reduced-duty import quota for sugar to ease a supply shortage on the EU market, the European Commission said on Monday.
The sugar management committee is likely to approve plans drafted by the EU's executive earlier this month to open a quota for raw and white sugar imports, with volumes and minimum duties set on the basis of tender bids from importers. [ID:nLDE7191BZ]
"Refiners and sugar users in parts of Europe have genuine problems with access to supplies of sugar at the moment, and the Commission is therefore keen to respond, using the tools available to us," Commission farm spokesman Roger Waite said. (Reporting by Charlie Dunmore, editing by Anthony Barker)