The European Commission published new rules in the Official Journal of the EU, on Wednesday 21 April, to simplify the EU support system for fruit and vegetable producers.
This simplification (https://bit.ly/3eozSLz ) paves the way for the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will apply from 2023. Member States will now be able to extend their national strategies for the fruit and vegetable sector to ensure a smooth transition between the current and new rules when the new CAP comes into force.
The new rules provide for: - extension of the outsourcing possibilities for producer organisations in the fruit and vegetable sector; - the calculation method to establish the value of mushrooms intended for processing is extended to different types of mushroom (oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms and agrocybes); - extension of the use of standard flat rates or lump sums to all costs supported under operational programmes (except crisis measures); - simplification of the rules regarding market withdrawal of fruit and vegetables for free distribution; - introduction of a maximum amount of support for market withdrawals for processing.
Simplification of the rules related to crisis prevention and management measures (e.g. harvest insurance) is also planned to encourage a greater uptake by producer organisations in the fruit and vegetable sector. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)