Brussels, 12/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following consultation of member states, the European Commission on Tuesday 11 December adopted the new rules for “de minimis” aid in the agriculture sector. De minimis aid corresponds to the lowest amount of state aid that does not have to be notified to the Commission and which does not risk distorting competition in the internal market. According to the new regulation, the authorised limit for this aid rises to €7,500 per beneficiary for a period of three years, as opposed to €3,000 under the current 2004 regulation. This aid cannot exceed over the same three-year period, 0.75% of annual agricultural production in the country, as opposed to the current rate of 0.3%. The new regulation enters into force on 1 January 2008 and will expire on 31 December 2013. The Commission previously proposed, before debating the matter with member states, to increase the ceiling to €6,000 (EUROPE 9401). (L.C.)