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
Date: 2008-05-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Cyprus, Netherlands, Slovenia, State aid, United Kingdom, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

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Official Journal of the European Union

14.5.2008

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 117/10)

Aid No: XA 18/08

3. Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest:

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Območje občine Hrpelje-Kozina

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid:

Pomoči za ohranjanje in razvoj kmetijstva in podeželja v občini
Hrpelje-Kozina 2007–2013

Legal basis:

Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči za ohranjanje in
razvoj kmetijstva ter podeželja v občini Hrpelje-Kozina v
obdobju 2007–2013 (II. Poglavje)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted:

2007: EUR 17 000

2008: EUR 27 000

2009: EUR 27 000

2010: EUR 27 000

2011: EUR 27 000

2012: EUR 27 000

2013: EUR 27 000

Maximum aid intensity:

— up to 100 % of actual costs where the relocation simply
consists of the dismantling, removal and re-erection of
existing facilities,

— where the relocation results in the farmer benefiting
from more modern facilities, the farmer is to contribute
at least 60 %, or 50 % in less-favoured areas, of the
increase in the value of the facilities concerned after relo-
cation. If the beneficiary is a young farmer, this contribu-
tion is to be at least 55 % or 45 % respectively,

— where the relocation results in an increase in production
capacity, the contribution from the farmer must be at
least 60 %, or 50 % in less-favoured areas, of
the
expenses relating to this increase. If the beneficiary is a
young farmer, this contribution is to be at least 55 % or
45 % respectively.

4. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal co-financing is the difference
between the
insurance
premiums from the national budget and up to 50 % of
eligible costs of insurance premiums for insuring crops
and fruit and insuring livestock against disease.

co-financing of

amount of

5. Aid for land reparcelling:

— up to 100 % of actual

legal and administrative costs

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

incurred.

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas and up

to 40 % in other areas.

The purpose of the aid is investment to restore farm features
to be used for agricultural
and to purchase equipment
production, to invest in permanent crops, to improve farm-
land and to manage pastures.

6. Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products:

— up to 100 % of costs; the aid is to be provided in the
form of subsidised services and does not involve direct
payments of money to producers.

2. Aid for conservation of traditional buildings:

7. Provision of technical support in the agricultural sector:

— for non-productive features, up to 100 % of actual costs,

— for productive assets on farms, up to 60 % of actual
costs, or 75 % in less-favoured areas, provided that the
investment does not entail any increase in the production
capacity of the farm,

— additional aid may be granted at a rate of up to 100 % to
cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional mate-
rials necessary to preserve the heritage features of build-
ings.

— up to 100 % of costs in the form of subsidized services
for education and training of
farmers, consultancy
services, the organisation of forums, competitions, exhi-
bitions and fairs, publications, catalogues and websites,
and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. The aid is
to be granted in the form of subsidised services and does
not involve direct payments of money to producers

Date of implementation: December 2007 (The aid will not be
granted until a summary has been published on the European
Commission's website)

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Duration of
31.12.2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Aid No: XA 25/08

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

Member State: Netherlands

Reference to Articles in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and
eligible costs:

Region: Provincie Noord-Brabant

Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting State aid for preserving
and developing agriculture and rural areas in the municipality of
Hrpelje-Kozina includes measures constituting State aid in
accordance with the following Articles of Commission Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the appli-
cation of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to State aid to small
and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agri-
cultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001
(OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

— Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings,

— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

ings,

— Article 6: Relocation of farm buildings in the public interest,

— Article 12: Aid towards

the payment of

insurance

premiums,

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

— Article 14: Aid to encourage the production of quality agri-

cultural products,

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

Economic sector(s) concerned: Agriculture

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Hrpelje-Kozina, Hrpelje
Reška cesta 14
SLO-6240 Kozina

Website:

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=2007109&dhid=92827

Other information:

The measure for the payment of insurance premiums to insure
crops and fruit includes the following adverse climatic events
which can be assimilated to natural disasters: spring frost, hail,
lightning, fire caused by lightning, storm and floods.

The municipality's Rules meet the requirements of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 concerning the measures to be adopted by
the municipality and the general provisions applicable (steps
preceding grant of aid, cumulation, transparency and moni-
toring of aid)

Zvonko BENČIČ-MIDRE
Mayor

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid:

Beleidsregels inzake de subsidieverlening in het kader van het
convenant Stuurgroep Landbouw Innovatie Noord-Brabant
(afgekort LIB-subsidieregeling).

Legal basis:

Algemene subsidieverordening Provincie Noord-Brabant die de
kaders geeft voor de LIB-subsidieregeling. Het betreft een verlen-
ging van een bestaande regeling die in 2006 is gemeld (nr. XA-
59/06) op grond van EG-Verordening 1/2004.

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of individual aid granted to the company: Under
the agreement on the LIB Steering Group, North Brabant
Province makes a total of EUR 481 460,81 available each year
to small and medium-sized enterprises producing agricultural
products in order to promote environmentally and socially
oriented innovations in agriculture

Maximum aid intensity:

The maximum aid intensity (percentage of investment eligible
for aid) is 40 %. For training and advising farmers, the aid inten-
sity may be up to 100 % as provided for in Articles 14(2)
and 15(3) of the Regulation. For investment aid to cover the
extra costs connected with protecting or improving the environ-
improving livestock holdings' hygiene conditions or
ment,
animal welfare, a maximum of 60 % aid may be granted,
provided that the investment goes beyond the minimum Com-
munity requirements applicable.

Not more than EUR 35 000 a year will be granted per subsidy
application, subject to a maximum of EUR 100 000 for three
years per project

Date of implementation: January 2008, once the Commission
has published the summary information

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Until 1.1.2012

Objective of aid:

The whole aid measure is aimed at lowering production costs,
improving and converting production, increasing quality and/or
improving the environment, hygiene and animal welfare. In par-
ticular, the LIB subsidy scheme aims to promote project-based
innovations in agriculture and horticulture directed at:

1.

improving environmental and water quality as well as spatial
and economic structure in North Brabant Province;

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Official Journal of the European Union

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2. enhancing the services to society (combining agriculture with
nature, care, education, tourism and recreation, etc.) provided
by farmers in North Brabant.

— The second objective is new compared with the scheme
notified in 2006. The scheme is fully in tune with the
social and environmental objectives of
the current
European common agricultural policy. The resources
earmarked for organic farming are in line with the EU's
current action plan on organic farming.

— The aid benefits small-scale project-based innovations in
which the ecological, social and economic aspects of agri-
culture and horticulture reinforce one another as much
as possible.

Activities which the LIB Steering Group may support financially
are:

— Market

research,

devising or

to
promote the production and sale of quality products as
referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005
(Article
(EC)
No 1857/2006).

designing products

of Regulation

14(2)(a),

and

(5)

(3)

— Developing and sharing knowledge among farmers and
farm workers by covering the costs of organising informa-
tion/training programmes and advice directed at farm inno-
vation, and the costs of organising forums to share knowl-
edge between businesses as referred to in Article 15(2)(d) of
Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, applying scientific knowl-
edge at farm level and disseminating knowledge by means of
publications (Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006).

— Investing in immovable property and equipment and, for
that purpose, hiring consultants and undertaking (feasibility)
studies with a view to lowering production costs, improving
and converting production,
increasing product quality,
improving animal welfare and the natural environment
(Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006).

— The subsidy referred to in Articles 14 and 15 of the Regu-
to the

lation is not granted to farmers (producers) but
parties providing the services.

— The activities must take place on sound, viable agricultural
holdings and produce practical results for similar holdings.

Eligible activities:

The eligible activities are stated in Article 3 of the current LIB
policy rules and Article 1(c) and (d) of the decree amending the
LIB policy rules

Name and address of granting authority:

Gedeputeerde Staten van Noord-Brabant
Brabantlaan 1
Postbus 90151
5200 MC `s-Hertogenbosch
Nederland

Website:

http://www.brabant.nl/Werken/Land_%20en%20tuinbouw/Land-
bouw%20Innovatie%20Noord%20Brabant%20LIB.aspx

Other information:

To view and download the scheme, please go to the above
website

Aid No: XA 26/08

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of Aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid:

English Pig Health Scheme

Legal basis:

and Rural Communities Act 2006,
Natural Environment
Sections 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96 and 97 et Levy Board
UK Order 2007, Schedule I, part 2.

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

The budget will cover the period from 1 April 2008 until
31 March 2013. A breakdown of the statutory levy funding for
each financial year is below:

Year

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

Total

Funding (GBP million)

0,25

0,26

0,27

0,28

0,29

1,35

Sector(s) concerned: All (primary) agricultural and horticul-
tural production sectors (animal and plant production), subject
to the enterprises concerned being small and medium-sized as
stipulated in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 75 %

Date of implementation: The scheme will be implemented on
1 April 2008

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Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme
will start on 1 April 2008. The last date of advice will be
30 March 2013, and the scheme will close on 31 March 2013

Aid No: XA 30/08

Member State: Republic of Cyprus

Objective of aid:

Animal health and welfare.

The objective of this scheme is to provide a subsidised service to
small and medium sized pig producers which will enable the
screening of pig carcasses for animal diseases. It is intended that
this will enable the reduction of the level of sub-clinical disease
in the English pig herd and thus improve the efficiency of the
industry. This will be in line with Article 10 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006

Sector(s) concerned: The scheme applies to small and medium
sized agricultural businesses active in livestock or cattle produc-
tion

Name and address of the granting authority:

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid:

Σχέδιο για την Κατεδάφιση με σκοπό τη Μετεγκατάσταση Οχληρών
Κτηνοτροφικών Υποστατικών

Legal basis:

Απόφαση Υπουργικού Συμβουλίου της 19ης Ιουνίου 2007

Annual expenditure planned or overall amount of aid
granted to the company: EUR 854 300 (CYP 500 000)

Μaximum aid intensity: 50 % of the replacement value of
licensed farms, 30 % of the replacement value of unlicensed
farms and 5 % of the replacement value to cover part of the
cost of dismantling and removing waste materials. Maximum
aid EUR 341 720 (CYP 200 000) per beneficiary

The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:

Date of implementation: 21.1.2008

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Area 5C, Millbank
C/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:

BPEX Ltd
C/o Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Area 5C, Millbank
C/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom

Website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/levy-bodies/pdf/pig-health-
scheme.pdf

Other information:

The scheme will be managed by BPEX Ltd, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of
the Agriculture and Horticulture Development
Council.

Further and more detailed information relating to eligibility and
rules for the scheme can be found in the web link above.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (UK competent authority)

Duncan Kerr
Agricultural State Aid
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 8D, 9 Millbank
C/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
Westminster
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom

Duration of
31.12.2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

to relocate farm buildings in the public
Objective of aid:
interest and in particular to encourage livestock farmers to
voluntarily dismantle and relocate premises which have become
an excessive nuisance and/or
source of environmental or
groundwater pollution owing to their location (Regulation (ΕC)
No 1857/2006, Article 6)

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock farming

Name and address of granting authority:

Τμήμα Γεωργίας, Υπουργείου Γεωργίας, Φυσικών Πόρων και Περι-
βάλλοντος
Λεωφόρος Λουκή Ακρίτα 1
CY-411 Λευκωσία

Website:

www.moa.gov.cy/da

Other information:

The farms will be selected on the basis of set criteria relating to
the public interest and the degree of environmental impact

Aid No: XA 46/08

Member State: Republic of Slovenia

Region: Občina Cankova

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid:

Podpora programom razvoja kmetijstva in podeželja v občini
Cankova 2007–2013

Legal basis:

Pravilnik o dodeljevanju državnih pomoči na področju razvoja
kmetijstva in podeželja v občini Cankova (II. Poglavje)

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

2007: EUR 23 535

2008: EUR 24 250

2009: EUR 25 000

2010: EUR 25 750

2011: EUR 26 500

2012: EUR 27 250

2013: EUR 28 000

Maximum aid intensity:

1. Investment in agricultural holdings for primary production:

— up to 50 % of eligible costs in less-favoured areas,

— up to 40 % of eligible costs in other areas.

The purpose of the aid is investment to restore farm features
and to purchase equipment
to be used for agricultural
production, to invest in permanent crops, to improve farm-
land and to manage pastures.

2. Conservation of traditional landscapes and buildings:

organization of forums, competitions, exhibitions, fairs,
publications and websites. The aid is to be granted in the
form of subsidised services and must not involve direct
payments of money to producers

Date of implementation: January 2008

Duration of
31.12.2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of the aid: To support SMEs

Reference to Articles in Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006:

constituting

Chapter II of the draft Rules on granting State aid for agri-
cultural and rural development in the municipality of Cankova
includes measures
in accordance
with the following Articles 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 agri-
cultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001
(OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3):

State

aid

— Article 4: Investment in agricultural holdings for primary

production,

— Article 5: Conservation of traditional landscapes and build-

— up to 100 % of actual costs for investment in non-pro-

ings,

ductive features,

— up to 60 % of actual costs, or 75 % in less-favoured
areas,
in productive assets on farms,
provided that the investment does not entail any increase
in the production capacity of the farm,

investment

for

— additional aid may be granted at at rate of up to 100 %
to cover the extra costs incurred by using traditional
materials necessary to preserve the heritage features of
buildings.

3. Aid towards the payment of insurance premiums:

— the amount of municipal co-financing is the difference
between the
insurance
premiums from the national budget and up to 50 % of
eligible costs of insurance premiums for insuring crops
and fruit and for insuring livestock against disease.

co-financing of

amount of

— Article 12: Aid towards

the payment of

insurance

premiums,

— Article 13: Aid for land reparcelling,

— Article 14: Aid to encourage the production of quality agri-

cultural products,

— Article 15: Provision of technical support in the agricultural

sector

Name and address of granting authority:

Občina Cankova
Cankova 25
SLO-9261 Cankova

Website:

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/ulonline.jsp?urlid=2007124&dhid=93792

4. Aid for land reparcelling:

Other information:

— up to 100 % of actual

legal and administrative costs

incurred.

5. Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products:

— up to 100 % of actual costs incurred;

this is to be
provided in the form of subsidised services and must not
involve direct payments of money to producers.

6. Provision of technical support:

The measure for the payment of insurance premiums to insure
crops and fruit includes the following adverse climatic events
which can be assimilated to natural disasters: spring frost, hail,
lightning, fire caused by lightning, storm and floods.

The municipality's Rules meet the requirements of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 relating to the measures to be adopted by
the municipality and the general provisions applicable (steps
preceding grant of aid, cumulation, transparency and moni-
toring of aid)

— up to 100 % of costs concerning education and training,
consultancy services provided by third parties and the

Drago VOGRINČIČ
Mayor of the municipality of Cankova