The new Regulation on promotion of agricultural products has been published yesterday in the Official Journal, following formal approval by Member States and the European Parliament earlier in recent weeks. The rapid agreement reached between the European Institutions testifies the importance given to this policy in order to enhance and improve the competitiveness of European agriculture.
The new regulation provides for a gradual increase in the resources available to 61 million planned for 2014 to 200 million in 2020. Under the new rules, national co-funding will disappear, but the EU co-financing rates have been raised to 70% for simple programmes presented by an organisation from one Member State, to 80% for multi Member State programmes and programmes targeting third countries, 85% for crisis measures.
Moreover the new regulation defines the promotion of quality systems as a key priority in order to improve the knowledge of consumers about the characteristics of such products. In this regard, the opportunity to mention the origin of the products in the promotion campaigns has been introduced for the first time. Another important element welcomed by AREPO is the inclusion of producer organizations as beneficiaries of the promotion policy.
The new regulation will enter into force on 1 December 2015.
To consult the new regulation: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AJOL_2014_317_R_0004
For more information on promotion policy: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/promotion/policy/index_en.htm
