Key dates - Thirty years of change to the EU Sugar Policy

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1968: Introduction of the EU Sugar Policy covering the six founding Member States of the Union.

1974: The accession of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark to the EU prompts a second revision of the EU Sugar Policy; the validity of the A&B quotas is extended until 1979/80. Transitional arrangements are agreed for CSAsugar pending negotiation of the Sugar Protocol.

1975: Agreement of the ACP/EU Sugar Protocol.

1980: One year "rollover" agreed to extend the validity of A&B quotas. Greece accedes to the EU.

1981: Third revision of the Policy. Isoglucose (HFCS) is incorporated into the policy and assigned quotas.

1986: Accession of Spain and Portugal to the EU. Transitional arrangements for the supply of raw sugar to the Portuguese refiners are agreed (Article 303). The EU sugar policy is "rolled over" until 1990/91. A new production levy on A&B sugar is introduced (the "elimination levy").

1988: The "Special elimination levy" introduced to reinforce the self-financing system.

1990: German reunification; A&B quotas are agreed for the territory of the former German Democratic Republic.

1991: The EU Sugar Policy is "rolled over" until 1992/93 pending the outcome of the Uruguay Round GATT talks; the Portuguese Article 303 arrangements are similarly rolled over. The "additional levy" replaces the elimination levies and ensures the complete self-financing of the policy on an annual basis.

1993: The EU Sugar Policy is "rolled over" again, this time for only one year until 1993/94, again pending the outcome of the Uruguay Round. Inulin fructose syrup is incorporated into the policy and quotas assigned.

1994: The EU Sugar Policy is "rolled over" yet again, for one more year until 1994/95, yet again pending the outcome of the Uruguay Round (UR). The UR of negotiations is completed in December 1994.

2004: European Commission Communication on the reform of the EU Sugar Regime.

2005: European Commission legislative proposals for Sugar Regime reform.