AGRICULTURE Minister Nick Brown led a sugar rebellion in Brussels, complaining that the EU is producing too much.

EU ministers failed to agree on proposals to overhaul sugar producers' subsidies and quota protection, which opponents blame for high prices and distorting world markets.

Led by France, most of the 15 EU nations want to keep the current system until at least 2006, while a minority led by Britain and backed by the European Commission wants earlier changes to open up the sector.

Updated: 10:36 Thursday, May 03, 2001