Article 68 General rules 1. Member States may decide by 1 August 2009 at the latest to use from 2010 up to 10 % of their national ceilings referred to in Article 41 to grant support to farmers: (a) for: (i) specific types of farming which are important for the protection or enhancement of the environment, (ii) for improving the quality of agricultural products, or (iii) for improving the marketing of agricultural products; (b) to address specific disadvantages affecting farmers in the dairy, beef, sheep and goatmeat and rice sectors in economically vulnerable or environmentally sensitive areas, (c) in areas subject to restructuring and/or development programs in order to avoid abandoning of land and/or in order to address specific disadvantages for farmers in those areas, (d) in the form of contributions to crop insurance premiums in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 69, (e) mutual funds for animal and plant diseases in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 70. 2. Support for measures referred to in paragraph 1(a) may only be granted: (a) if (i) as regards support for the specific types of farming referred to in its point (i), it respects the requirements for agri-environment payments set out in the first subparagraph of Article 39(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, (ii) as regards support for improving the quality of agricultural products referred to in its point (ii), it is consistent with Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and Chapter I of Title II of Part II of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and (iii) as regards support for improving the marketing of agricultural products referred to in its point (iii), it respects the criteria laid down in Articles 2 to 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 and (b) only for coverage of the additional costs actually incurred and income foregone in order to fulfil the objective concerned. 3. Support for measures referred to in paragraph 1(b) may only be granted: (a) upon full implementation of the single payment scheme in the sector concerned in accordance with Articles 54, 55 and 71. (b) to the extent necessary to create an incentive to maintain current levels of production. 4. Support under the measures referred to in paragraph 1(a), (b) and (e) shall be limited to 2.5 % of the national ceilings referred to in Article 41 Member States may set sub-limits per measure. 5. Support for measures referred to: (a) in paragraph 1(a) and (d) shall take the form of annual additional payments, (b) in paragraph 1(b) shall take the form of annual additional payments such us headage payments or grassland premia, (c) in paragraph 1(c) shall take the form of an increase of the unit value and/or the number of the farmer's payment entitlements, (d) in paragraph 1(e) shall take the form of compensation payments as specified in Article 70. 6. The transfer of payment entitlements with increased unit values and of additional payment entitlements referred to in paragraph 5(c) may only be allowed if the transferred entitlements are accompanied by the transfer of an equivalent number of hectares. 7. Support for measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be consistent with other Community measures and policies. 8. Member States shall raise the funds needed to cover the support referred to: (a) in paragraph 1(a), (b), (c) and (d) by proceeding to linear reduction of the entitlements allocated to farmers and/or from the national reserve, (b) in paragraph 1(e) by proceeding, if necessary, to linear reduction of one or several of the payments to be made to the beneficiaries of the relevant payments in accordance with this title and within the limits set out in paragraphs 1 and 3. 9. The Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 128(2), shall define the conditions for the granting of the support referred to under this section, in particular with a view to ensure consistency with other Community measures and policies and to avoid cumulation of support.

Article 68 General rules 1. Member States may decide by 1 August 2009, 2010 or 2011 at the latest to use from 2010, 2011 or 2012 up to 10 % of their national ceilings referred to in Article 41 to grant support to farmers: (a) for: (i) specific types of farming which are important for the protection or enhancement of the environment, including animal welfare, (ii) for improving the quality of agricultural products, or (iii) for improving the marketing of agricultural products; (b) to address specific disadvantages affecting farmers in the dairy, beef, sheep and goatmeat, potatoe starch, flax and rice sectors in economically vulnerable or environmentally sensitive areas, (c) in areas subject to restructuring and/or development programs in order to avoid abandoning of land and/or in order to address specific disadvantages for farmers in those areas, (d) in the form of contributions to crop insurance premiums in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 69, (e) mutual funds for animal and plant diseases in accordance with the conditions set out in Article 70. 2. Support for measures referred to in paragraph 1(a) may only be granted: (a) if (i) as regards support for the specific types of farming referred to in its point (i), it respects the requirements for agri-environment payments set out in the first subparagraph of Article 39(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, (ii) as regards support for improving the quality of agricultural products referred to in its point (ii), it is consistent with Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and Chapter I of Title II of Part II of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 and (iii) as regards support for improving the marketing of agricultural products referred to in its point (iii), it respects the criteria laid down in Articles 2 to 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 and (b) only for coverage of the additional costs actually incurred and income foregone in order to fulfil the objective concerned. 3. Support for measures referred to in paragraph 1(b) may only be granted: (a) upon full implementation or towards full implementation within three years, of the single payment scheme in the sector concerned in accordance with Articles 54, 55 and 71. (b) to the extent necessary to create an incentive to maintain current levels of production. 4. Support under the measures referred to in paragraph 1(a), (b) and (e) shall be limited to 2.5 % of the national ceilings referred to in Article 41 Member States may set sub-limits per measure. 5. Support for measures referred to: (a) in paragraph 1(a) and (d) shall take the form of annual additional payments, (b) in paragraph 1(b) shall take the form of annual additional payments such us headage payments or grassland premia, (c) in paragraph 1(c) shall take the form of an increase of the unit value and/or the number of the farmer's payment entitlements, (d) in paragraph 1(e) shall take the form of compensation payments as specified in Article 70. 6. The transfer of payment entitlements with increased unit values and of additional payment entitlements referred to in paragraph 5(c) may only be allowed if the transferred entitlements are accompanied by the transfer of an equivalent number of hectares. 7. Support for measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall be consistent with other Community measures and policies. 8. Member States shall raise the funds needed to cover the support referred to: (a) in paragraph 1(a), (b), (c) and (d) by proceeding to linear reduction of the entitlements allocated to farmers and/or from the national reserve, (b) in paragraph 1(e) by proceeding, if necessary, to linear reduction of one or several of the payments to be made to the beneficiaries of the relevant payments in accordance with this title and within the limits set out in paragraphs 1 and 3. 9. The Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 128(2), shall define the conditions for the granting of the support referred to under this section, in particular with a view to ensure consistency with other Community measures and policies and to avoid cumulation of support. 10. When deciding on the use from 2010 up to 10 % of their national ceilings, Member States shall do so in consultation with its sub-national levels of government.