EN Official Journal of the European Union C 18/19

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 Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001

(2009/C 18/08)

Aid No: XA 339/08

Member State: Denmark

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Produktionsrelateret specialrådgivning med fokus på slagtefjerkræ

Legal basis: Lov om administration af Det Europæiske Fællesskabs forordninger om markedsordninger for landbrugsvarer m.v. (Bemyndigelsesloven), jf. lovbekendtgørelse nr. 297 af 28. april 2004

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: DKK 1 920 000

Maximum aid intensity: 100 %

Date of implementation:

Duration of the scheme or the individual aid: Until 30 September 2009

Objectives of aid: The aim of the scheme is to provide impartial and expert general technical advice. It is also designed to maintain a high level of skill in the production of hatching eggs, broilers and knowledge about poultry buildings, equipment and environmental issues.

The final beneficiaries are poultry farmers. The scheme concerns only small and medium-sized enterprises.

The scheme comes under Article 15(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. It concerns expenditure on consultancy services

Sector(s) concerned: Poultry sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Fjerkræafgiftsfonden Axeltorv 3 DK-1609 Copenhagen V

Website: http://www.poultry.dk/ddf/fa.nsf/B2009T.pdf?openfileresource

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 340/08

Member State: Denmark

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Økologiske slagtekyllinger

Legal basis: Lov om administration af Det Europæiske Fællesskabs forordninger om markedsordninger for landbrugsvarer m.v. (Bemyndigelsesloven), jf. lovbekendtgørelse nr. 297 af 28. april 2004

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: DKK 252 000

Maximum aid intensity: 100 %

Date of implementation:

Duration of the scheme or the individual aid: Until 30 September 2009

Objectives of aid: The aim of the scheme is to gather and disseminate information about organic broiler production.

The final beneficiaries are poultry farmers. The scheme concerns only small and medium-sized enterprises.

The scheme comes under Article 15(2)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. It concerns expenditure on consultancy services

Sector(s) concerned: Poultry sector

Name and address of the granting authority:

Fjerkræafgiftsfonden Axeltorv 3 DK-1609 Copenhagen V

Website: http://www.poultry.dk/ddf/fa.nsf/B2009T.pdf?openfileresource

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 365/08

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Scotland

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Orkney Johne's Disease Eradication Scheme

Legal basis: Local Government in Scotland Act 2003; Section 69(3) of the Orkney County Council Act 1974

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: GBP 120 000 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds) total

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 % in line with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 1 November 2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will start on 1 November 2008 and will close on 31 October 2011

Objective of aid: The scheme will be pursued in accordance with Chapter 2, Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The scheme will provide a screening service for cattle in Orkney for Johne's Disease. This scheme is all-inclusive, and ensures that at least 80 % of the current Orkney breeding herd is tested for the disease. Johne's disease is one of the animal diseases listed where aid made may be granted for prevention and control, which is in accordance with Article 10(7) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. The scheme is provided as a service for the agricultural community at large, and makes no charge nor levy for testing stock — Aid provided under this scheme is granted in kind by means of subsidised services, and will not involve direct payment of money to producers.

By testing cattle for the disease, the principle aim of OJDES is to sustain disease-free, High Health status of Orkney's cattle, thereby meeting all of the following objectives:

to reduce production costs,

To improve or redeploy production,

to improve quality,

to preserve and improve the natural environment, hygiene conditions and animal welfare standards,

to improve marketing profile

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the production of agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority:

Orkney Islands Council Council Offices School Place Kirkwall Orkney KW15 1NY United Kingdom

Website: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=13745&tt=orkneyv2

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 366/08

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Scotland

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Bluetongue Vaccination Campaign

Legal basis: Section 4(3) of the Small Landholders Act 1911

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: GBP 3 000 000

Maximum aid intensity: 50 %

Date of implementation: The scheme will start on 3 November 2008

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will start on 3 November 2008 and will close on 30 April 2009

Objective of aid: Aid to SMEs

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to the small and medium sized enterprises involved in the primary production of agricultural products

Name and address of the granting authority:

Scottish Government Pentland House 47 Robbs Loan Edinburgh EH14 1TY United Kingdom

Website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Agriculture/animal-welfare/Diseases/SpecificDisease/bluetongue/BTVaccination/BTVaccinationStateAidInfo

Other information: The aim of the Vaccination Campaign against Bluetongue is to keep Scottish livestock free from disease. Vaccination of cattle and sheep is compulsory, and vaccination of all other domestic susceptible animals is voluntary The aid provided reduces the cost of the vaccine to producers and animal keepers by 50 % of the manufacturer's costs. Producers and animal keepers will pay the balance of the manufacturing and delivery costs.

The Scottish Government has secured 12 million doses of vaccine for use by livestock producers and animal keepers who meet the definition of an SME. This scheme helps producers and animal keepers meet the costs of the vaccination campaign during the first year. The vaccine will be supplied on a first come first served basis. It may be that figure of 12 million based on the estimate of the number required to vaccinate all eligible animals in Scotland up to the end of the winter of 2008/2009 vaccination period may be sold out before the end of the winter. If this is the case, producers and animal keepers will then have to pay the full commercial price for the vaccine.

The scheme complies with Chapter 2, Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006. by providing support up to 50 % of the bluetongue vaccine manufacturing cost for SME's. The support has been provided directly to the vaccine manufacturers. Producers will therefore receive the vaccine at the supported price when purchased from the veterinary practice and is granted in kind by means of a subsidised service which will not involve direct payment of money to producers.

Farmers can administer the vaccine themselves, except where veterinary administration and certification is specifically required.

It is anticipated that all the vaccine will be used during the life of this scheme however if at the end of the 2008/2009 winter vaccination period any of the 12 million doses of vaccine were unused the Scottish Government will apply for an extension to the closure date of this scheme

(1) This scheme will be operated as a service for the agricultural community at large.