The NFU believes that the thresholds for intervention for butter and SMP should be reviewed. This is especially relevant given the current market situation, but is also in accordance with the 2013 CAP reform agreement. In order to be an effective safety net, the NFU believes that intervention reference thresholds should reflect the higher costs of production seen since these were last set. However it is important to stress that we would not want to see the EU level set close to or above production costs in any member state. Intervention should continue to be a short-term market crisis measure and should not be seen as a viable market outlet for milk production.