EN Official Journal of the European Union C 132/17

Information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

(2008/C 132/05)

Aid No: XA 78/08

Member State: Spain

Region: Catalunya

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Ayudas compensatorias por los costes de erradicación de la plaga de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann)

Legal basis: Resolución AAR/985/2007, de 2 de abril, por la que se establece la retirada o la destrucción obligatoria de mandarinas en campos de cítricos para evitar la difusión de la plaga de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann).

Resolución AAR/2532/2007, de 7 de agosto, por la que se incrementa la cuantía de las indemnizaciones que establece la Resolución AAR/985/2007, de 2 de abril, para la retirada o la destrucción obligatoria de mandarinas en campos de cítricos para evitar la difusión de la plaga de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann).

Resolución AAR/…/2008, de …, por la que se modifican las bases de la Resolución AAR/985/2007, de 2 de abril, para la retirada o la destrucción obligatoria de mandarinas en campos de cítricos para evitar la difusión de la plaga de la mosca mediterránea de la fruta (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 274 337,05

Maximum aid intensity: Gross aid intensity shall not exceed 100 %.

The amount of the aid is EUR 0,13 per kilogram of mandarins withdrawn or destroyed. The resulting sum is to be reduced by the amount received from the insurance taken out by the beneficiary SME and the costs not incurred on account of the infestation, which in other circumstances would have been paid out

Date of application: January 2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31.12.2008

Objective of aid: The aid is intended to compensate farmers for losses caused by the Mediterranean fruit fly infestation (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann) in accordance with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Eligible costs are those resulting from losses caused by the withdrawal and destruction of mandarins and also for a plan of compulsory measures for combating the above-mentioned infestation

Sector(s) concerned: Agricultural holdings that produce mandarins

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departamento de Agricultura, Alimentación y Acción Rural Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, 612-614 E-08007 Barcelona

Website: http://www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/DAR/menuitem.3645c709047c363053b88e10b031e1a0/?vgnextoid=06dfe407f0287110VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=06dfe407f0287110VgnVCM1000008d0c1e0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Aid No: XA 90/08

Member State: Belgium

Region: Vlaanderen

Title of aid scheme/name of company receiving an individual aid: Vlaams Fokkerijcentrum vzw

Legal basis: Decreet van 21 december 2007 houdende de algemene uitgavenbegroting van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap voor het begrotingsjaar 2008.

Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering van 2 september 2005 betreffende de uitbouw van fokkerijstructuren in Vlaanderen.

Ministerieel besluit houdende de organisatie van de uitbouw van fokkerijstructuren in Vlaanderen

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 96 750

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % to cover the costs of consultancy services provided by third parties, the fees for services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity nor relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services, or advertising.

Up to 100 % to cover costs concerning the organisation of and participation in forums to share knowledge between businesses, competitions, exhibitions and fairs

Date of implementation: Aid may be granted as from 1 March and, at the earliest, 15 days after submission of an application.

Aid can be granted by means of an implementing decree. These decrees are drawn up annually. A draft implementing decree has yet to be drawn up, and will include a ‘standstill’ clause

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The subsidy will be granted in the period to 31.12.2008

Objective of the aid: Vlaams Fokkerijcentrum vzw (VFc) is a recognised not-for-profit association which provides advice to recognised breeders' associations in the cattle, pig, poultry, horse, sheep and goat, and farmyard animal sectors. This advice relates to the technical and organisational aspects of breeding.

VFc takes part in exhibitions with a view to sharing knowledge.

The measure comes under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and fulfils the conditions thereof.

Article 15(2)(c): concerning consultancy services provided by third parties, the fees for services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity nor relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services, or advertising.

Article 15(2)(d): concerning the organisation of and participation in forums to share knowledge between businesses, competitions, exhibitions and fairs

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling Ellips, 6e verdieping Koning Albert II laan, 35, bus 40 B-1030 Brussel

Website: http://www2.vlaanderen.be/ned/sites/landbouw/info/steun/eu.html

Other information: —

Jules Van LIEFFERINGE

Secretaris-generaal

Aid No: XA 91/08

Member State: Belgium

Region: Vlaanderen

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Verbond voor Eieren, Pluimvee en Konijnen vzw

Legal basis: Decreet van 21 december 2007 houdende de algemene uitgavenbegroting van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap voor het begrotingsjaar 2008.

Koninklijk besluit van 2 juni 1998 betreffende de zoötechnische en genealogische voorschriften voor de verbetering en de instandhouding van de pluimvee- en konijnenrassen

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 21 000

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 100 % to cover the costs of consultancy services provided by third parties and the fees for services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity and do not relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services or advertising

Date of implementation: Aid may be granted from 1 March and, at the earliest, 15 days after notification.

Aid can be granted by means of an implementing decree. These decrees are drawn up annually. A draft implementing decree has yet to be drawn up, and will include a ‘standstill clause’

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The grant period will run until 31.12.2008

Objective of aid: The registered association Verbond voor Eieren, Pluimvee en Konijnen vzw (VEPEK) has indicated that it will use the aid to provide consultancy services to participants from enterprises active in primary production in the poultry and rabbit sectors with regard to animal health, food safety, food quality, animal welfare, environmental problems and economic and breeding issues.

The aid is granted under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and meets the criteria thereof.

Article 15(2)(c): concerning consultancy services provided by third parties, the fees for services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity nor relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services or advertising

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock sectors

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling Ellips, 6e verdieping Boulevard du Roi Albert II 35, boîte 40 B-1030 Brussel

Website: http://www2.vlaanderen.be/ned/sites/landbouw/info/steun/eu.html

Other information: —

Jules Van LIEFFERINGE

Secretaris-generaal

Aid No: XA 92/08

Member State: Belgium

Region: Vlaanderen

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Vlaamse Bedrijfspluimvee- en Konijnenhouders vzw

Legal basis: Decreet van 21 december 2007 houdende de algemene uitgavenbegroting van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap voor het begrotingsjaar 2008.

Koninklijk besluit van 2 juni 1998 betreffende de zoötechnische en genealogische voorschriften voor de verbetering en de instandhouding van de pluimvee- en konijnenrassen.

Ministerieel besluit van 17 maart 2005 houdende de erkenning en subsidiëring van organisaties in het kader van de aanmoediging en de verbetering van de pluimvee- en konijnenfokkerij

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 10 000

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 100 % to cover the costs of consultancy services provided by third parties and the fees for services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity and do not relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services or advertising

Date of implementation: Aid may be granted from 1 March and, at the earliest, 15 days after notification.

Aid can be granted by means of an implementing decree. These decrees are drawn up annually. A draft implementing decree has yet to be drawn up, and will include a ‘standstill clause’

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The grant period will run until 31.12.2008

Objective of aid: The registered association Vlaamse Bedrijfspluimvee- en Konijnenhouders vzw (VBPKH) has indicated that it will use the aid to provide consultancy services to enterprises active in primary production in the poultry and rabbit sectors with regard to the legislation on the recognition of specialist poultry farms, the performance of rabbit bloodlines and the identification and registration of holdings, poultry diseases and waste.

The aid is granted under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and meets the criteria thereof.

Article 15(2)(c): concerning consultancy services provided by third parties, the fees for services which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity nor relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure, such as routine tax consultancy services, regular legal services or advertising

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock sectors

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling Ellips, 6e verdieping Koning Albert II laan, 35, bus 40 B-1030 Brussel

Website: http://www2.vlaanderen.be/ned/sites/landbouw/info/steun/eu.html

Other information: —

Jules Van LIEFFERINGE

Secretaris-generaal

Aid No: XA 94/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardia

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Misure regionali straordinarie di sostegno degli allevamenti suinicoli colpiti o ‘sospetti di contaminazione’ dalla malattia vescicolare dei suini — Indennizzi per mancato reddito

Legal basis:

— Deliberazione della Giunta regionale della Lombardia n. 6395 del 27 dicembre 2007‘Misure regionali straordinarie di sostegno degli allevamenti suinicoli colpiti o’ sospetti di contaminazione ‘dalla malattia vescicolare dei suini’.

— Legge regionale 7 febbraio 2000, n. 7, ‘Norme per gli interventi regionali in agricoltura’, art. 17 ‘interventi sugli abbandoni ed abbattimenti’.

— Decreto della D.G. Sanità 26 giugno 2007 n. 6929 ‘Ulteriori misure straordinarie per prevenire la diffusione della malattia vescicolare del suino in Lombardia’, punto 5 del Capo I (Norme generali) relativo alle dotazioni minime di biosicurezza negli allevamenti.

— Decreto della D.G. Sanità 27 agosto 2007 n. 9348 ‘Sostituzione dell'allegato 2 del D.D.S n. 8064 del 19 luglio 2007. Ulteriori misure straordinarie per prevenire la diffusione della malattia vescicolare del suino’.

— Provvedimento della D.G. Sanità prot. H1.2007.0046390 del 29 ottobre 2007‘Malattia vescicolare dei suini — intervento straordinario’

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 10 million

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 %

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the registration number for the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 31.12.2008

Objective of aid: Compensation for damage caused by epizootic disease.

The legal basis is Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

The aid is planned to cover eligible damage resulting from the depopulation period or the slaughter of animals due to overcrowding for animal welfare or to prevent the spread of the disease.

The periods when farming is suspended for health reasons and the number of animals present and slaughtered will be certified by way of declarations of the competent regional health authorities.

The loss of income will be dealt with in various ways for the farms using stamping out measures (2 km from the outbreaks) where the slaughter of animals and the suspension of farm activities have taken place, and the farms in the buffer zone (2 to 3 km from the outbreaks) where all animal movement will be stopped, which entails higher maintenance costs and a depreciation of the commercial value of animals.

Therefore:

For the farms affected or which are suspected of being contaminated located in the inner part (2 km) of the protection zone (stamping out), compensation shall be granted for the waiting period ordered by the competent health authorities, for up to a maximum of six months. For breeding farms compensation shall be granted for the entire period of suspension of farm activities ordered by the health authorities. For fattening farms compensation shall be granted on the basis of the number of days of closure (from the 30th day of being placed in the waiting period) using the FADN gross margin.

For farms in the outer part (2 to 3 km) of the protection zone, breeding animals will not be taken into account, and the period of mandatory inactivity of farms will be considered only in respect of potentially unsold animals. For closed-cycle and fattening farms the aid which may be granted is determined by the actual depreciation of the commercial value. The same method will be used for open cycle farms, but the number of days of the mandatory movement ban will run from the 30th day of being placed in the protection zone. If the farm must carry out the slaughter and destruction of the animals due to overcrowding, for animal welfare or to prevent the spread of the disease (determined by the competent health authorities), a contribution based on the market value (according to ISMEA tables) and a reimbursement of the costs of slaughtering and destroying the animals shall be made.

The contribution due will be calculated on the basis of structural data and economic indicators from the FADN network as published by INEA (National Agricultural Economic Institute), and on the basis of average national prices for the purposes of reimbursement for the animals slaughtered under Law No 218 of 2 June 1988, for the week referred to by order of the relevant Health Authority

Sector(s) concerned: Pig farming

Name and address of the granting authority:

Regione Lombardia — Direzione generale agricoltura Via Pola, 12/14 I-20124 Milano

Website: www.agricoltura.regione.lombardia.it

click on ‘Further information’ and then ‘State aid’

Other information: —

Dr.ssa Enrica GENNARI

Il Dirigente della Struttura Raccordo con le Politiche Nazionali e Comunitarie

Aid No: XA 95/08

Member State: Belgium

Region: Vlaanderen

Title of aid scheme/name of company receiving an individual aid: Steun aan de controleorganisaties in de biologische productiemethode (productie)

Legal basis: Koninklijk Besluit van 17 april 1992 inzake de biologische productiemethode en aanduidingen dienaangaande op landbouwproducten en levensmiddelen, artikel 8bis; gewijzigd bij het KB van 10 juli 1998 en 3 september 2000. (B.s. 20.5.2000).

Referentie: Belgisch staatsblad 20.5.2000, dossier nr. 1992-04-17/32

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: Subsidy of EUR 58 000. The aid is granted for two purposes:

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %

Date of implementation: The aid will start as from 1.3.2008

Aid can be granted by means of an implementing decree. These decrees are drawn up annually. A draft implementing decree has yet to be drawn up, and will include a ‘standstill’ clause

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The aid, totalling EUR 58 000, will be granted for activities between 1.3.2008 and 31.12.2008

Objective of the aid: ‘Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products’ on the basis of Article 14(2)(e) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001.

All costs concern compulsory controls on organic production that are undertaken by recognised inspection bodies on behalf of the competent authorities.

Eligible costs are as follows:

The objective of the aid is to support organic farming by paying for the costs of controls.

Regarding the costs in point 1 above, further clarifications are given below in response to the question posed by the Commission.

Under Article 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, the Commission asks each year for a report on the supervision of organic production, containing the relevant data (cultivated area, number of animals, number of inspections and analyses carried out, number of undertakings by NACE code, etc.).

In order to produce a thorough report, the Flemish authorities have since 2005 set additional requirements for the inspection bodies.

Because the recognised inspection bodies are expected to supply at least the data required under Article 15, in the form stipulated by the national authorities, the amount of EUR 18 000 is to be divided between them. This amount covers the costs arising from the changes they have to make to their IT systems and the additional administrative burden of collecting the required data.

This amount is to be paid to the inspection bodies in order to avoid the additional burden and costs being passed on to the producers

Sector(s) concerned: Organic farming

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling Ellips, 6e verdieping Koning Albert II laan 35, bus 40 B-1030 Brussel

Website: http://www2.vlaanderen.be/landbouw/nieuws/07/1003.html.

Other information: Without this aid, the national authorities will not be in a position to provide the Commission with a thorough report.

Without the aid, organic farmers in Flanders will be at a disadvantage vis-à-vis farmers in other Member States as a result of being subject to additional inspections, sampling and analyses

Jules Van LIEFFERINGE

Secretaris-generaal