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27 August 2010 - 25/10


Applications for funding to promote agricultural products on the Internal Market – now open


The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) invites applications from trade organisations to apply for EU funding for the marketing and promotion of agricultural products.

The marketing activities will be designed to increase levels of information and sales of certain agricultural products of EU origin within EU countries.

Eligible products include:

  • Fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Processed fruit and vegetables
  • Fibre flax
  • Live plants and products of ornamental horticulture
  • Olive oil and table olives
  • Seed oils
  • Milk and milk products
  • Fresh, chilled or frozen meat, produced in accordance with a Community or a national quality scheme
  • Labelling of eggs for human consumption
  • Honey and beekeeping products
  • Wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, wines with an indication of the wine grape variety
  • Graphic symbol for the outermost regions as laid down in agricultural legislation
  • Protected designation/s of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication/s (PGI) or traditional speciality/ies guaranteed (TSG) in accordance with Council Regulations (EC) No 509/2006 or (EC) No 510/2006 and products registered under these schemes
  • Organic farming in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91
  • Poultry meat

Applications for funding must have been received by RPA by 30th November 2010.

In order to clarify what information the application should contain, the Commission has introduced a standard application form. You must use this form, following it precisely, when completing your application, and all of the information detailed in it must be included. You can find the latest version of the form here.

Full details are available from Steve Wood on 0191 226 5338, Michelle Lowrey on 0191 226 5656, or Gillian Cook on 0191 226 5161 at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), or fax: 0191 226 5828, or
Email: promotions@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.

END


Notes to Editors
  • The Rural Payments Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It is the single paying agency responsible for CAP schemes in England and for administering certain schemes throughout the UK.
  • The EU part-finances information and promotion campaigns about its farm products, manufactured foodstuffs and production methods.
  • Each application for funding must arrive at the Rural Payments Agency by 30th November 2010. Applications submitted after this date cannot be considered. Applications may be sent by email to promotions@rpa.gsi.gov.uk. A first draft may be submitted up to one month ahead of this deadline so that any changes can be discussed and incorporated into the final copies if necessary.
  • Defra and RPA will evaluate each application. Following the evaluation three bound copies, three unbound copies and an electronic copy of the final application must be sent to the Rural Payments Agency.
  • Council Regulation (EC) 3/2008 and Commission Regulation (EC) 501/2008 (both as amended) set out the eligible programmes and conditions which have to be met to qualify for aid funding.
  • Each programme shall be implemented over a period of at least one year but not more than three years from the date on which the relevant contract takes effect. However programmes for the Marking of Eggs for Human Consumption, and Information and Promotion campaigns for Poultry meat should be for one or two years. Multi-annual programmes are preferable. Funding is not given for part years.
  • The Commission has stated a clear preference for those programmes involving more than one Member State or providing for measures in several Member States.
  • For these applications, funds may be made available from the EU Commission in Brussels for scheme measures with an expected start date of August 2011 onwards.
  • Promotion measures shall cover one or more of the following measures:
  • Public relations work, promotion and advertising, in particular to draw attention to intrinsic features and advantages of Community products, notably the quality and safety of food, specific production methods, nutritional and health aspects, labelling, animal welfare and respect for the environment;
  • information campaigns, in particular on Community systems of protected designations of origin (PDOs), protected geographical indications (PGIs) and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSGs) and of organic farming, and other Community schemes for quality standards and labelling of agricultural products and foodstuffs, as well as on the graphic symbols laid down by applicable Community legislation;
  • information campaigns on the Community system covering wines with a protected designation of origin or geographical indication, wines with an indication of the wine grape variety and spirit drinks with a protected geographical indication;
  • impact assessment of the information and promotion measures;
  • information on responsible drinking patterns and harm linked to hazardous alcohol consumption;
  • participation in events, fairs and exhibitions of national and European importance, by means of stands aimed at enhancing the image of Community products.

Where the health effects or nutrition value of the consumption of products are mentioned, their scientific basis must be specified. All such references must comply with both national and Community health legislation. Material containing health claims must be accepted by the competent national authorities.

RPA strongly recommends that any health claims to be included in a programme are submitted as soon as possible, ideally with the initial application, to allow any necessary checks to be made. This enables organisations to have the material available as and when it may be needed during the campaign.

If the contractor is required to pay value added tax in a Member State, that amount shall not be eligible for a financial contribution from the European Union.

The applicant must appoint a separate organisation, selected by competitive tender, which should implement at least 50% of the programme. The applicant may implement certain parts of a programme itself in accordance with Art 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 3 /2008. However this is subject to the conditions set down in Art 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 501/2008.

Eligible trade or inter-trade organisations applying for funding must:
  • be able to fund at least 20% of the contribution themselves, but may fund up to 50%.  Up to 30% of the financing may be borne by the Member State.  However the Proposing Organisation and/or Member State may use para-fiscal charges or compulsory contributions for payment of their share.
  • have its registered place of business in a Member State of the Community;
  • have the legal and practical ability to supervise the planned promotion activity and must propose an organisation with the practical ability to implement the planned promotional activities;
  • undertake to promote products produced in the Community without favouring regions, individual brands, trademarks or companies.

All financial transactions must be through a unique bank account set up specifically for the contract.

Applications will be selected by the EU Commission in accordance with the regulatory selection procedure.

Funding – quasi-tax revenue: Article 13 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 3/2008 requires funding to be shared: the split being the Commission not more than 50%; proposing organisation at least 20% and up to 50%; and where appropriate the Member States up to 30%. Due to the very tight financial constraints imposed on the CAP, the UK has no funds available to finance the required Member State contribution of any promotional measures agreed. However, there is provision in Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) 3/2008 for the proposing organisation and/or Member state contributions to be met by para-fiscal charges or compulsory contributions.

In addition, a scheme leaflet, IM(P)1, is available which provides a more detailed description of the scheme and its rules. This may be found on the RPA website here. A set of Frequently Asked Questions can also be found online.


Media contact only: RPA Press Office, 0118 968 7680.

Page published: 4 August 2011