Applications for funding invited for
promotion of certain agricultural products of EU origin
Applications for EU part funding are invited from trade organisations for promotional activities 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 pig meat; food preparations based on these products;
- Quality poultry meat;
- Milk products;
- Olive oil and table olives;
- Table wines with a geographical indication; quality wines produced in specified regions (psr);
- Spirit drinks with a geographical indication or a reserved traditional description;
- Fresh and processed fruit and vegetables;
- Products processed from cereals and rice;
- Fibre flax;
- Live plants and products of ornamental horticulture;
- Products with a protected designation of origin (PDO), a protected geographical indication (PGI) or a traditional specialty guaranteed (TSG), in accordance with Council Regulations (EC) No 2081/92 (OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p.1) or (EC) No 2082/92 (OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p.9); and
- Products from organic farming, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2092/91 (OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p.1)
Applications for funding must be with RPA by 31st March 2008
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 Rural Payments Agency (RPA), or fax: 0191 226 5250, or
Email: promotions@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.
END
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. Four copiesThree bound copies plus three unbound copies of each application must arrive at the Rural Payments Agency by 31st March 2008. Applications submitted after this date cannot be considered.unless the regulatory deadlines are revised to allow for later submissions.
3. Council Regulation (EC) 2702/1999 (as amended) and Commission Regulation (EC) 1346/2005 set out the eligible programmes and conditions which have to be met to qualify for aid funding.
4. 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.
5. For these applications, funds may be made available from the EU Commission in Brussels for scheme measures with an expected start date of January 2009 onwards.
6. Promotion measures shall cover one or more of the following measures:
- Public relations, promotional or publicity measures, in particular highlighting the advantages of Community products, especially in terms of quality, hygiene, food safety, nutrition, labelling, animal welfare or environment-friendliness;
- Participation at events, fairs or exhibitions of international importance, especially through the provision of Community exhibition stands;
- Information campaigns, in particular on the Community system covering protected designations of origin (PDOs), protected geographical indications (PGIs), guaranteed traditional specialities (GTSs) and organic production, as well as other Community regimes concerning quality standards and labelling for agricultural products and foodstuffs, and graphic symbols laid down in the relevant Community legislation.
- Information campaigns on the Community system of quality wines produced in specified regions (QWPSR), table wines and spirit drinks with a geographical indication;
- Studies of new markets, necessary for the expansion of market outlets;
- High level trade visits;
- Studies to evaluate the results of the promotional and information measures.
7. Eligible trade or inter-trade organisations applying for funding must:
- Be able to fund 30% of the contribution themselves and a further 20% using quasi-tax revenue; or the proposed programme must be of manifest Community interest to allow the proposing organisation to be responsible for all the funding not supplied by the Communityat 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.
8. Applications will be selected by the EU Commission in accordance with the regulatory selection procedure.
9. Funding – quasi-tax revenue: Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2702/1999 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 9(3) of Regulation (EC) 2702/1999 for the proposing organisation and/or Member state contributions to be met by para-fiscal charges or compulsory contributions.
10. List of third countries & geographical areas where promotion measures may be carried out:
- South Africa
- Australia
- South Korea
- India
- Norway
- Serbia & Montenegro (incl Kosovo)
- Turkey
- North Africa
- Latin America
- Russia
- Middle East
- China
| Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Japan
New Zealand
Switzerland
Ukraine
North America
South East Asia |
11. Information note to interested parties: Measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries
Media contact only: Ciaran Baker, RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680.
|