European fruit and vegetable producer organisations will enjoy simpler rules and greater financial support in times of crisis thanks to new legislation that comes into force on 1 June 2017 (see EUROPE 11744).
The updated and simplified delegated regulation, adopted in March of this year, will strengthen the role of producer organisations by making them more attractive to non-members. Every year, 3.4 million holdings across the EU, roughly a quarter of all EU farms produce some €47 billion worth of fruits and vegetables.
According to the latest available figures, there were around 1,500 producer organisations covering 50% of EU fruit and vegetable production. In addition to direct aid and co-funding by the EU of rural development projects, European fruit and vegetable producers have benefitted from exceptional support measures worth a total of €430 million since Russia imposed its embargo on agri-food imports from the EU in August 2014.
The Commission also provides additional funding for producer organisations of about €700 million every year. The new rules will, inter alia, increase withdrawal prices that producers received to regulate markets and encourage short supply circuits. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)