EN

(...PICT...)|COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES|

Brussels, 20.5.2008

SEC(2008) 1905

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT accompanying the REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

on the flax and hemp sector

{COM(2008) 307 final}

Figure 1 – Flax area and number of farms in the main producing Member States

Member State|Flax area (ha, 2006)|Number of farms (2005)|

France|76 278|6 320|

Belgium|15 919|2 290|

Netherlands|4 366|610|

Czech Republic|2 736|110|

Poland|2 586|3 320|

Source: DG AGRI, Eurostat and AND International|

Figure 2 – Hemp area and number of farms in the main producing Member States

Member State|Hemp area (ha, 2006)|Number of farms (2005)|

France|8 083|840|

UK|1 671|140|

Romania|1 450|110|

Germany|1 233|265|

Czech Republic|1 086|10|

Poland|762|80|

Source: DG AGRI, Eurostat and AND International|

Figure 3 – Evolution of flax areas 1970 – 2006 (source: AND International)

0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 area (ha) EU15 EU 25 EU 10

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

area (ha)

EU15

EU 25

EU 10

Figure 4 – Evolution of hemp areas 1970 – 2006 (source: AND International)

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 area (ha) EU15 EU 25 EU 10

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

area (ha)

EU15

EU 25

EU 10

Figure 5 – Evolution of production of flax straw 1970 – 2006 ( source : AND I nternational )

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Figure 6 – Evolution of production of hemp straw 1970 – 2006 (source: AND International)

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Figure 7 – Evolution of prices 1995 – 2005 (source: AND International)

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Figure 8 – Value of one hectare of flax base on estimated prices (source: AND International on the basis of French data)

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Figure 9 – Value of one hectare of hemp based on estimated prices (source: AND International and Nova Institute on the basis of German data)

5,8 tonnes of straw 3,2 t of stalk of peeled hemp o r 560 € 1,6 t of fibre ( incl uding 1,2 t. of technica l fibres ) 0,64 t of dustin g 0,36 t of losses (water, wood, stones) or 812 € or value between 560 et 800 € depending on fibre 1 hectare of hemp

5,8 tonnes of straw

3,2 t

of stalk of peeled hemp

o

r

560

€

1,6 t

of fibre

(

incl

uding

1,2 t.

of technica

l

fibres

)

0,64 t

of dustin

g

0,36 t of losses (water, wood, stones)

or 812 €

or value

between

560 et 800

€

depending on fibre

1 hectare of hemp

Figure 10 – Assessment of the administrative cost of processing aid for flax and hemp fibres

List of measures entailing administrative costs

Information to be notified or tasks to be fulfilled|Producers|Processors|Member States|Commission|Timing / Frequency|compulsory / optional|

establishment of a sale/purchase contract|X|X|||once|C|

application for the authorisation as a primary processor||X|||before 31 July|C|

authorisation of primary processors|||X||once|C|

authorised processors apply for aid to MS competent authorities listing sale/purchase contracts and areas covered||X|||before 20 September|C|

authorised processors keep a detailed register of stocks of straw and produced fibre||X|||continuous|C|

periodic declarations: quantities eligible for aid, quantities of straw transformed, impurity levels stocks, monthly sales and prices||X|X|X|at the end of each period*|C|

information by processors on the use of fibres||X|||once a year|C|

contracts covering cleaning of short fibres ||X|X|X|once a year|C|

control of impurity level||X|X||continuous|C|

payment of advances|||X|X|three times a year|C|

payment of aid|||X|X|once a year|C|

apportionment of quota of 5000 t of short flax and hemp fibres between DK, EL, IE, IT and LU|X||X|X|once a year|C|

transfer between NGQ for long and short flax and hemp fibres|||X||once a year|C|

imports of hemp subject to import licences|X|X|||continuous|C|

conditions regarding imports of hemp|||X||continuous|C|

authorisation of hemp varieties with a THC content below 0,2%|||X||continuous|C|

THC controls covering at least 30% of hemp area|||X||once a year|C|

calculation of quantities eligible for aid|||X|||C|

calculation of unit quantities|||X||before 31 January|C|

on-the-spot controls and reports to the Commission|||X|||C|

* marketing year of 22 months is composed of five periods: period I = 01/07-31/12; II = 01/01-30/04; III = 01/05-31/08; IV = 01/09-31/12; V = 01/01-30/04.|