Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty

Cases where the Commission raises no objections

(2003/C 154/07)

Date of adoption of the decision: 13.5.2003

Member State: Italy (Sardinia)

Aid No: N 135/03

Title: Aid to the distillery DICOVISA Srl for losses due to grubbing up vines

Objective: To provide partial compensation to the only distillery in Sardinia for income lost between 1988/89 and 1995/96 as a result of implementing the programme of grubbing up vines under Regulation (EEC) No 1442/88

Legal basis: Progetto di intervento a favore della DICOVISA per la perdita di esercizio causata dai mancati conferimenti conseguenti agli espianti dei vigneti. Articolo 7 della Legge regionale 33/95

Budget: EUR 2300000

Aid intensity or amount: Ad hoc assistance

Duration: One-off aid

Other information: Assistance relating to alcohol for distillation which is not subject to a common organisation of the market and hence falls under Article 4 of EEC Council Regulation No 26 of 4 April 1962

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 13.5.2003

Member State: United Kingdom

Aid No: N 697/02

Title: Meat Industry Development Scheme (Wales)

Objective: The purpose of the scheme is to increase the efficiency of the activities of the Meat and Livestock Commission and the Welsh Development Agency by instructing a single body (Hybu Cig Cymru) to undertake certain economic and non-economic functions on their behalf. The areas of operation will cover marketing, industry development, and information, communications and consumer issues

Legal basis: Part 1 and Schedule 1 of the Agriculture Act 1967 (as amended); Section 1 of the Welsh Development Act 1975 (as amended)

Budget: 2003/04 - GBP 0,75 million (EUR 1115000)

2004/05 - GBP 0,75 million (EUR 1115000)

2005/06 - GBP 0,75 million (EUR 1115000)

2006/07 - GBP 0,75 million (EUR 1115000)

2007/08 - GBP 0,75 million (EUR 1115000)

The scheme will be financed mainly by funds derived from the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) parafiscal levies and grants from the Welsh Development Agency (WDA)

Aid intensity or amount: Variable

Duration: Five years from 1 April 2003

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 13.5.2003

Member State: Germany (Baden-Württemberg)

Aid No: N 525/02

Title: Quality program and quality label "Biolabel Baden-Württemberg"

Objective: Promotion of products from organic farming. The aid mesure would provide aid towards a quality label "Biolabel Baden-Württemberg". The biolabel would consist of two parts, namely of the German federal biolabel (Biosiegel der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) to which a second, smaller field would be added indicating the geographical origin of the product. The indication of the origin and the national/regional symbols in the second field of the label can vary depending on the Member State or the production region, since the label is open for use by all regions or Member States of the EU. The biolabel would only be granted to organic products satisfying the criteria laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. The products would also have to satisfy certain additional criteria regarding production methods, product characteristics and relating to the geographical origin of a product. Consumer information and advertising relating to the biolabel and the products bearing it may receive support under the notified aid program

Legal basis: Haushaltsgesetz des Landes Baden-Württemberg; Landwirtschaft- und Landeskulturgesetz Baden-Württemberg sowie Vollzugshinweise

Budget: Between EUR 0,280 and 0,310 million in 2003 to 2006

Aid intensity or amount: For consumer information the aid may be up to 100 % of the documented costs and is limited to EUR 100000 per beneficiary. For advertising campaigns the aid rate is 50 % and the sector has to contribute the rest of the advertising costs

Duration: Unlimited

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids

Date of adoption of the decision: 13.5.2003

Member State: Italy (Piedmont)

Aid No: N 587/01

Title: Income support for livestock farms in crisis due to BSE

Objective: Aid to compensate income lost by livestock farmers in the period January-June 2001

Legal basis: Proposta di legge regionale n. 284: "Interventi straordinari per fronteggiare l'emergenza nel settore zootecnico causata dall'encefalopatia spongiforme bovina e modifica dell'articolo 5 della Legge regionale 25 maggio 2001, n. 11"

Budget: EUR 4648112

Aid intensity or amount: Up to 100 % of losses, as set out in the letter to the Member State

Duration: One-off aid

Other information: Piedmont undertakes to submit an annual report to the Commission on the implementation of this measures

The authentic text(s) of the decision, from which all confidential information has been removed, can be found at

http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/state_aids