Brussels, 13/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 13 October, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without debate, a regulation on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries following an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament. The United Kingdom, Netherlands and Swedish delegations voted against.
The new promotion scheme, which will come into effect from 1 January 2015, will be extended to new beneficiaries, such as producer organisations. The regulation also provides new opportunities for promotion, by mentioning the origin of products or brand names under certain conditions. A gradual but significant increase in the budget is planned - from €61.5 million in the 2013 budget to €200 million in 2020.
Eligible products. Information and promotion measures can cover: - the products listed in annex I to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU); - food products listed in an annex to the draft regulation based on the model of annex I to regulation 1151/20121 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs to which cotton and sweetcorn have been added; - spirit drinks and wine with a protected geographical indication and also beer under certain conditions; - in the context of multiproduct promotion, the fishery and aquaculture products listed in annex 1 to regulation 1379/20132 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products.
National quality schemes. National quality schemes referred to under the new legal framework for rural development (regulation 1305/20133) can be promoted as part of these measures.
Indications of brands. Information provision and promotion measures must not be brand-oriented. However, indication of brands in the promotion programme is now possible under certain conditions defined further in an implementing act in respect of the internal market. This provision is expected to further open up the possibilities for improving the promotion of agricultural products.
Proposing organisations. In order to increase the number of programmes and improve their quality, the range of beneficiaries has been extended. In addition to trade or inter-trade organisations and producer organisations in the EU, the proposing organisations now include, under certain conditions, other bodies of the agrifood sector.
Involvement of the member states. Although member states will play an active role in assisting the proposing organisations in the preparation of their proposals at a national level, once submitted to the Commission the proposals will have to be assessed at EU level. However, the Commission will provide the member states with appropriate information on all programmes proposed and selected.
Financing of the measures. The EU financial contribution to the promotion programmes will be: - 70% of the eligible expenditure in the case of simple programmes on the internal market; - 80% of the eligible expenditure in the case of multi programmes on the internal market and all programmes in foreign countries; - 85% of the eligible expenditure in the case of crises with no distinction between simple and multi-programmes.
In the absence of national co-financing, this will give SMEs and producer organisations the financial capacity to engage in such actions. The EU financial contribution will be increased respectively to 75%, 85% and 90% of the eligible expenditure for the proposing organisations established in member states receiving financial assistance in accordance with Articles 136 and 143 TFEU on 1 January 2014 or thereafter. (LC)