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: 2008-09-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, France, Italy, State aid, aid to agriculture, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

6.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 229/15

NOTICES FROM MEMBER STATES

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 229/09)

Aid No: XA 193/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Provincia autonoma di Trento

Title of aid scheme:

Assistenza tecnica:

— finalizzata al miglioramento qualitativo del bestiame attra-

verso l'attività di selezione,

Duration of scheme: The aid may be granted not later than
31 December 2013

Objective of aid:
Improving livestock quality by assisting
livestock holdings with mating programmes, checks on milking
plants and bovine fertility, and providing support to farmers to
ensure the traceability of beef and veal from animals raised in
the Province, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000.

Article 15(2)(c) and Article 16(1)(b) of exempting Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 provide the legal basis for the application
of this aid scheme

— finalizzata alla fertilità e alla fecondità del bestiame,

Sector(s) concerned: Livestock sector

— all'attuazione delle attività connesse alla normativa in
in

identificazione e registrazione degli animali

materia di
applicazione al regolamento (CE) n. 1760/2000

Legal basis:

L.P. 4 del 28 marzo 2003 «Sostegno dell'economia agricola,
disciplina dell'agricoltura biologica e della contrassegnazione di
prodotti geneticamente non modificati» art. 43, lettere b) e d).

Deliberazione della Giunta provinciale di Trento n. 215 del
1o
febbraio 2008, modificata con deliberazioni n. 862 del
4 aprile 2008 e n. 1193 del 9 maggio 2008 criteri attuativi
dell'art. 43, lettere b) e d) della L.P.4/2003

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: The annual
budget appropriation concerned totals EUR 800 000

implementation of

Maximum aid intensity: The amount of provincial aid for tech-
nical assistance for the fertility and fecundity of livestock and
the
connected to legislation
activities
governing the identification and registration of animals in
accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 will be 100 %
of eligible costs.

The amount of provincial aid for
the technical activity to
improve the quality of livestock by means of selection measures
will be 70 % of eligible costs.

The aid will be granted in kind by means of subsidised services
and will not involve direct payments of money to producers

implementation: The scheme will be applicable
Date of
following the publication of the identification number of the
application for exemption on the website of the Commission's
Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Name and address of the granting authority:

Provincia autonoma di Trento
Dipartimento agricoltura e alimentazione
Servizio vigilanza e promozione delle attività agricole
Via G.B. Trener, 3
I-38100 Trento

Website:

http://www.delibere.provincia.tn.it/scripts/gethtmlDeli.asp?Item=
12&Type=FulView

http://www.delibere.provincia.tn.it/scripts/viewAllegatoDeli.asp?
Item=12

http://www.delibere.provincia.tn.it/scripts/gethtmlDeli.asp?Item=
5&Type=FulView

Aid No: XA 194/08

Member State: Italy

Region: Lombardia

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

Piano assicurativo regionale
in favore delle
imprese agricole, a tutela dei danni derivanti da epizoozie e fito-
patie

sperimentale,

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Official Journal of the European Union

6.9.2008

Legal basis:

— Bozza di deliberazione giunta regionale, «Piano assicurativo
in favore delle imprese agricole, a

regionale sperimentale,
tutela dei danni derivanti da epizoozie e fitopatie»

— Legge regionale n. 7 del 7 febbraio 2000, «Norme per gli

interventi regionali in agricoltura»

— Legge regionale n. 3/2006, «Modifiche a leggi regionali in

materia di agricoltura»

— Legge 2 giugno 1988, n. 218 «Misure per la lotta contro
l'afta epizootica ed altre malattie epizootiche degli animali»

— Decreto legislativo 29 marzo 2004, n. 102 «Interventi finan-
ziari a sostegno delle imprese agricole, a norma dell'articolo
1, comma 2, lettera i), della legge 7 marzo 2003, n. 38»

paid by farmers,
less payments granted under a national
insurance scheme (in accordance with Article 16 of Regu-
lation (EC) No 1857/2006).

The aid must not constitute a barrier to the operation of the
internal market for insurance services. The aid must not be
limited to an individual insurance company or group of compa-
nies, or be made subject to the condition that a contract of
insurance be taken out with a company established in the
Member State concerned.

As regards point (b) above, the scheme is subject to the exis-
tence of a relevant programme enabling the safe disposal of
fallen stock to be monitored and guaranteed. The aid scheme
also does not include direct payment of money to producers,
but
is granted to economic operators providing insurance
services to cover the cost of removal and/or destruction of
fallen stock, who demonstrate that the amount has been paid in
full to the farmer

— Decreto del ministero delle Politiche agricole alimentari e

forestali n. 26078 del 28 dicembre 2007

Sector(s) concerned: Farm holdings:
production

livestock and crop

— Decreto del ministero delle Politiche agricole alimentari e

Name and address of the granting authority:

forestali n. 102971 del 27 dicembre 2006

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
EUR 2 million

individual

Maximum aid intensity: Up to 50 % for those cases referred to
in Article 12(2)(b)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 (cost of
insurance premiums in respect of losses caused by animal or
plant diseases or pest infestations) and up to 100 % for cases
referred to in Article 16(1)(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006
(cost of insurance premiums paid by farmers for the removal
and destruction of fallen stock)

Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the
registration number of the request for exemption on the website
of
for Agriculture and
Rural Development

the Commission's Directorate-General

Duration of scheme or individual aid: Until 31 December
2013

Objective of aid: The aid scheme is designed to encourage
farms to use insurance programmes to safeguard and protect
agricultural and livestock production. In accordance with Arti-
cles 12 and 16 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, the aid
provides for State aid to also include insurance cover in respect
of
the agricultural risks connected to losses caused by the
spread of animal and plant diseases.

This addition to State incentives will cover, subject to the limits
set out in Community legislation, the following types of risk:

(a) losses

caused by animal or plant diseases or pest
infestations: up to 50 % of the cost of insurance premiums,
less payments granted under a national
insurance scheme
(in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006);

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

Website:

www.agricoltura.regione.lombardia.it, click on ‘Per saperne di
più’, and then on ‘Aiuti di Stato’

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 195/08

Member State: Belgium

Region: Vlaanderen

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

Biocampagnes 2008

Legal basis:

Ontwerp subsidiebesluit voor het project „Biocampagnes 2008”
van Bioforum Vlaanderen vzw (zie bijlage)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
EUR 73 650

individual

(b) costs of the removal and destruction of fallen stock: up to
an amount equivalent to the cost of insurance premiums

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 50 %
of the proven costs of the aid scheme submitted. Overheads are
not eligible for aid

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C 229/17

Date of implementation: The aid will not be granted until the
aid decision has been signed by the minister and budget appro-
priations have been committed (mid-May 2008). The stand-still
principle will be complied with

Aid No: XA 196/08

Member State: Belgium

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The aid will be
granted for a period running up to 31 December 2008

Region: Vlaanderen

Objective of aid: The aid is to be paid to Bioforum so that it
can organise Bioweek in June 2008 and an autumn campaign in
October 2008 to widen public awareness of organic farming.
The focus will be on strategic planning and targeting and coor-
dinating publicity measures for these two campaigns.

The aid is to be granted under Article 15 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006. The aid may cover 100 % of the following
costs

— Article 15(2)(c): Aid concerning

consultancy

services

provided by third parties,

— Article 15(2)(e): Aid for

information on quality
factual
systems open to products from other countries, on generic
products and on the nutritional benefits of generic products
and suggested uses for them,

— Article 15(2)(f): Aid for publications such as catalogues or
websites presenting factual
information about producers
from a given region or producers of a given product,
provided the information and presentation is neutral and
that all producers concerned have equal opportunities to be
represented in the publication. Aid will only be granted for
activities and information material in which no reference is
made to the origin of the product.

The scheme does not provide for any aid for advertising
purposes.

All parts of Article 15 will be complied with

Sector(s) concerned: Organic farming.

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

Subsidie Netwerk Bioforum Vlaanderen

Legal basis:

Ontwerp subsidiebesluit voor het project „Netwerk Bioforum
Vlaanderen — Naar een biosector met meer slagkracht — werk-
jaar 2008 van 1 mei 2008 tot 31 december 2008” van
Bioforum Vlaanderen vzw (zie bijlage)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
EUR 415 000

individual

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 100 %
of the proven costs of the aid scheme submitted. Overheads are
not eligible for aid

Date of implementation: The aid will not be granted until the
aid decision has been signed by the minister and budget appro-
priations have been committed (mid-May 2008). The stand-still
principle will be complied with

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The aid will be
granted for a period running up to 31 December 2008

Objective of aid: The aid is to be granted to Bioforum so that
it can provide basic information on organic farming and organic
products for Flanders on its ‘Biotheek’ website, among other
things by means of:

The aid is to be paid to small and medium-sized holdings only

— a one-stop shop for all organic issues,

Name and address of the granting authority:

— a well-maintained website www.biotheek.be providing

comprehensive up-to-date information,

Departement Landbouw en Visserij
Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling
Koning Albert II-laan 35, bus 40
B-1030 Brussel

Website:

— information brochures and product folders,

— the ‘Puur’ magazine for consumers, the ‘Puur’ technical infor-
mation section for farmers, and the ‘Puur’ technical informa-
tion section for processors and traders,

http://lv.vlaanderen.be/nlapps/docs/default.asp?id=780

Other information: —

— a digital photo archive,

— an electronic newsletter,

— extensive press work and crisis communications for organic

farming.

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6.9.2008

Bioforum is also carrying out two organic campaigns and is
responsible for integrating communication: integrating various
organic messages and harmonising publications. Bioforum's aim
is to improve the marketing structure and market transparency
for organic products.

— Article 23 du règlement (CE) no 1698/2005 du Conseil du
20 septembre 2005 concernant le soutien au développe-
ment rural par le FEADER, en liaison avec le règlement (CE)
no 1974/2006 de la Commission du 15 décembre 2006
portant modalités d'application de ce règlement

Bioforum plays an advisory role for organic farming in various
policy areas: agriculture, education, research, health care, etc.

— Décret no 2007-1516 du 22 octobre 2007 relatif à la mise
en œuvre d'une mesure de préretraite pour les agriculteurs

The aid is to be granted under Article 15 of Regulation (EC)
No 1857/2006. The aid may cover 100 % of the following
costs:

— Article 15(2)(c): Aid concerning

consultancy

services

provided by third parties,

— Article 15(2)(e): Aid for

information on quality
factual
systems open to products from other countries, on generic
products and on the nutritional benefits of generic products
and suggested uses for them,

— Article 15(2)(f): Aid for publications such as catalogues or
websites presenting factual
information about producers
from a given region or producers of a given product,
provided the information and presentation is neutral and
that all producers concerned have equal opportunities to be
represented in the publication. Aid will only be granted for
activities and information material in which no reference is
made to the origin of the product.

The scheme does not provide for any aid for advertising
purposes.

All parts of Article 15 will be complied with

Sector(s) concerned: Organic farming.

The aid is to be paid to small and medium-sized holdings only

Name and address of the granting authority:

Departement Landbouw en Visserij
Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling
Koning Albert II-laan 35, bus 40
B-1030 Brussel

Website:

http://lv.vlaanderen.be/nlapps/docs/default.asp?id=780

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 199/08

Member State: Metropolitan France

Region: This scheme may also be part-financed by regional or
local authorities (regional or general councils) wishing to do so

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

Aides à la préretraite en agriculture

Legal basis:

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
amount of
aid granted to the company:
EUR 7 000 000

individual

Maximum aid intensity: Farmers taking early retirement may
receive flat-rate aid of EUR 7 000 per year, plus additional aid
of about EUR 2 000 per year consisting of free cover under the
social security system during the period of early retirement,
until
i.e. a total
amount of EUR 9 000 per year

full pension entitlement has been reached,

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

for

Duration of
31 December 2013

scheme or

individual

aid award: Until

Objective of aid: The early-retirement scheme is intended to
provide a social solution for farmers forced to cease their
activity as a result of economic difficulties, inability to adapt to
new environmental constraints or serious health problems,
whilst promoting the transfer of the land thus released to young
farmers starting up using the aid provided for in the PDRH
(Hexagonal Rural Development Programme) or farmers aged
under 50 who increase the size of their holdings.

The scheme is designed to enable holdings to be restructured
and will involve about 1 000 farmers each year.

France will fund this scheme, in accordance with Article 8 of
Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, by means of an annual budget
divided up between the regions. A financial contribution from
the regional or local authorities may be added to this to supple-
ment the allowance, up to the permitted Community ceiling
(EUR 18 000 per year per beneficiary).

The scheme will be implemented by means of project contracts
between the State authorities and the regions under
the
the prefects. The allowance will be paid by
authority of
CNASEA on the basis of proof of
transfer and complete
cessation of activity

Sector(s) concerned: SMEs in all sectors of agricultural produc-
tion

Name and address of the granting authority:

Ministère de l'agriculture et de la pêche
78, rue de Varenne
F-75349 Paris 07 SP

Website:

http://agriculture.gouv.fr/sections/thematiques/exploitations-agri-
coles/aides-aux-exploitations/la-preretraite/

— Article 8 du règlement (CE) no 1857/2006

Other information: —