The Rural Payments Agency invites applications from trade organisations for EU funding towards promotion and information activities. These must be aimed at increasing the information on, and sales of, certain agricultural products of EU origin in specified non-EU countries.
Eligible products include:
- Fresh, chilled and frozen beef, veal and pigmeat; food preparations based on these products;
- Quality poultrymeat;
- Milk products;
- Olive oil and table olives;
- Wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, wines with an indication of the wine grape variety;
- Spirit drinks with a protected geographical indication;
- Fresh and processed fruit and vegetables;
- Products processed from cereals and rice;
- Fibre flax;
- Live plants and ornamental horticulture products;
- Protected designation(s) of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication(s) (PGI) or traditional specialty(ies) guaranteed (TSG) in accordance with Council Regulations (EC) No 509/2006 (OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p.1) or (EC) No 510/2006 (OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p.12); and
- Organic farming products in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p.1)
Applications for funding must be with RPA by 31st March 2010.
Full details are available from Steve Wood on 0191 226 5338, Michelle Lowrey on 0191 226 5656, or Gillian Cook on 0191 226 5161 at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), or fax: 0191 226 5828, or Email: promotions@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.
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Notes to Editors
1. The Rural Payments Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and for administering certain schemes throughout the UK
2. The EU part-finances information and promotion campaigns about its farm products, manufactured foodstuffs and production methods.
3. In order to clarify what information the application should contain, the Commission have introduced a standard application form. You must use this form, following it precisely, when completing your application, and all of the information detailed in it must be included.
4. Each application for funding must arrive at the Rural Payments Agency by 31st March 2010. Applications submitted after this date cannot be considered. Applications may be sent by email to promotions@rpa.gsi.gov.uk. A first draft may be submitted up to one month ahead of this deadline so that any changes can be discussed and incorporated into the final copies if necessary.
5. Defra and RPA will evaluate each application. Following the evaluation three bound copies, three unbound copies and an electronic copy of the final application must be sent to the Rural Payments Agency.
6. Council Regulation (EC) 3/2008 and Commission Regulation (EC) 501/2008 (both as amended) set out the eligible programmes and conditions which have to be met to qualify for aid funding.
7. Each programme shall be implemented over a period of at least one year but not more than three years from the date on which the relevant contract takes effect. Multi annual programmes are preferable. Funding is not given for part years.
8. The Commission has stated a clear preference for those programmes involving more than one Member State and a group of products. For those programmes concerning a single Member State or product, preference will be given to those programmes which place particular emphasis on the Community interest as a whole, particularly with regard to safety and quality.
9. For these applications, funds may be made available from the EU Commission in Brussels for scheme measures with an expected start date of January 2011 onwards.
10. Promotion measures shall cover one or more of the following measures:
- Public relations work, promotion and advertising, in particular to draw attention to intrinsic features and advantages of Community products, notably the quality and safety of food, specific production methods, nutritional and health aspects, labelling, animal welfare and respect for the environment;
- information campaigns, in particular on Community systems of protected designations of origin (PDOs), protected geographical indications (PGIs) and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSGs) and of organic farming, and other Community schemes for quality standards and labelling of agricultural products and foodstuffs, as well as on the graphic symbols laid down by applicable Community legislation;
- information campaigns on the Community system covering wines with a protected designation of origin or geographical indication, wines with an indication of the wine grape variety and spirit drinks with a protected geographical indication;
- impact assessment of the information and promotion measures;
- information measures on the Community system for table wine;
- participation in events, fairs and exhibitions of international importance, in particular by means of stands aimed at enhancing the image of Community products;
- studies of new markets, necessary for the expansion of market outlets;
- high-level trade visits.
11. If the contractor is required to pay duties and taxes in third countries targeted by the programme, such duties and taxes shall be eligible for reimbursement from the approved programme budget, unless those duties and taxes are recoverable in the third countries in which the programme is carried out.
12. The applicant must appoint a separate organisation, selected by competitive tender, which should implement at least 50% of the programme. The applicant may implement certain parts of a programme itself in accordance with Art 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 3 /2008. However this is subject to the conditions set down in Art 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 501/2008.
13. Eligible trade or inter-trade organisations applying for funding must:
- be able to fund at least 20% of the contribution themselves, but may fund up to 50%. Up to 30% of the financing may be borne by the Member State. However the Proposing Organisation and/or Member State may use para-fiscal charges or compulsory contributions for payment of their share;
- have its registered place of business in a Member State of the Community;
- have the legal and practical ability to supervise the planned promotion activity and must propose an organisation with the practical ability to implement the planned promotional activities;
- undertake to promote products produced in the Community without favouring regions, individual brands, trademarks or companies.
14. Applications will be selected by the EU Commission in accordance with the regulatory selection procedure.
15. Funding – quasi-tax revenue: Article 13 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 3/2008 requires funding to be shared: the split being the Commission not more than 50%; proposing organisation at least 20% and up to 50%; and where appropriate the Member States up to 30%. Due to the very tight financial constraints imposed on the CAP, the UK has no funds available to finance the required Member State contribution of any promotional measures agreed. However, there is provision in Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) 3/2008 for the proposing organisation and/or Member state contributions to be met by para-fiscal charges or compulsory contributions.
16. List of third countries & geographical areas where promotion measures may be carried out:
A. Countries
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- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
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B. Geographical areas
17. In addition, a scheme leaflet, IM(P)2, is available which provides a more detailed description of the scheme and its rules.
Also on the RPA website is a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions.
Media contact only: Caroline Forcer, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680.
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