Brussels, 21/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - In 2010/2011, more than eight million children and 54,000 schools benefited from the programme for the distribution of fruit in schools, according to the report on the implementation of this scheme which was published by the European Commission on 18 December. Only Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom opted not to implement it.
Although it is too early to judge the long-term impact of the programme, which started in autumn 2009, the short-term results fed back from most of the assessments carried out at national and regional level indicate that the programme has led to an increase in the quantity of fruit consumed by children.
The report concludes that if it is continued in the long run, the scheme may be considered an adequate tool to bring to bear a positive influence on the eating habits of children.
As part of the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP), the Commission has proposed an increase from 90 to 150 million euros of the budget devoted to the programme and to increase the co-funding rate, the current level of which has been identified as an obstacle to the development of the initiative.
The Commission has started an analysis of the results of Community programmes for the distribution of fruit and milk in schools. It intends to conclude this work in the second half of 2013, then to present a legislative proposal with the aim of improving these schemes, or extending them. (LC/transl.fl)