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
Date: 2008-09-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Lithuania, State aid, United Kingdom, agricultural product, agricultural production, control of State aid, exchange of information, small and medium-sized enterprises

24.9.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 243/17

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 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 243/05)

Aid No: XA 165/08

Member State: Republic of Lithuania

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Pagalba kokybiškų žemės ūkio produktų gamybai
skatinti

Legal basis:

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministro 2007 m. balandžio
23 d.
įsakymas Nr. 3D-184 „Dėl pagalbos kokybiškų žemės
ūkio produktų gamybai skatinti teikimo taisyklių patvirtinimo“
(Žin., 2007, Nr. 46-1759)

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministro 2008 m. kovo 3 d.
įsakymas Nr. 3D-111 „Dėl žemės ūkio ministro 2007 m.
balandžio 23 d. įsakymo Nr. 3D-184 “Dėl pagalbos kokybiškų
žemės ūkio produktų gamybai skatinti teikimo taisyklių patvirti-
nimo„ pakeitimo“ (Žin., 2008, Nr. 27-991)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
aid granted to the company:
amount of
rate
5 000 000,
LTL
(EUR 1 448 100)

individual

exchange

official

euro

the

at

Maximum aid intensity:

conception and design,

1. up to 100 % of the costs of market research activities, agri-
cultural product
including the
preparation of applications for recognition of geographical
indications and designations of origin or certificates of
specific character in accordance with Community regulations
and the drafting of specifications for the certification of agri-
cultural products under food quality schemes recognised by
national legislation;

2. up to 100 % of the costs of introducing a quality manage-
ment scheme in conformity with LST EN ISO 9001:2001, an
environmental management
system in conformity with
LST EN ISO 14001:2005, a food safety management system
in conformity with LST EN ISO 22000:2005, systems based
on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), a
EurepGAP system,
traceability systems, systems to assure
respect of authenticity and marketing norms;

system in

quality management

3. up to 100 % of the costs of training personnel to apply
a
conformity with
LST EN ISO 9001:2001, an environmental management
system in conformity with LST EN ISO 14001:2005, a
system in conformity with
food safety management
LST EN ISO 22000:2005, systems based on hazard analysis
and critical control points (HACCP), a EurepGAP system,
traceability systems,
food quality schemes recognised by
national legislation, systems to assure respect of authenticity
and marketing norms;

4. up to 100 % of

in

the charges

the costs of

levied by
recognised certifying bodies for the initial certification of a
conformity with
scheme
quality management
LST EN ISO 9001:2001, an environmental management
system in conformity with LST EN ISO 14001:2005, a
food safety management
system in conformity with
LST EN ISO 22000:2005, systems based on hazard analysis
and critical control points (HACCP), a EurepGAP system,
traceability systems,
food quality schemes recognised by
national legislation, systems to assure respect of authenticity
and marketing norms;

the

5. up to 100 % of the costs of control measures undertaken by
third-party inspection bodies, unless Community legislation
requires enterprises to bear such costs. Aid is not granted to
supervising
of monitoring
cover
organic production if the applicant is participating in the
‘Organic farming’ programme of
the ‘Agri-environmental
expenditure’ measure under the Lithuanian rural develop-
ment programme for 2007-2013, approved by Commission
Decision C(2007) 5076 of 19 October 2007

costs

and

Date of implementation: 20 March 2008

Duration of the aid scheme or the individual aid: Until
31 December 2013

Objective of aid:

Aid to SMEs.

To encourage the primary production of quality agricultural
products.

Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 applies

C 243/18

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Official Journal of the European Union

24.9.2008

Eligible expenditure:

Website:

1. expenditure on market

research activities,

agricultural
product conception and design, including the preparation of
applications for recognition of geographical indications and
designations of origin or certificates of specific character in
accordance with Community regulations and the drafting of
specifications for the certification of agricultural products
under food quality schemes recognised by national legisla-
tion;

2. expenditure on introducing a quality management scheme
in conformity with LST EN ISO 9001:2001, an environ-
mental management
with
LST EN ISO 14001:2005, a food safety management system
in conformity with LST EN ISO 22000:2005, systems based
on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), a
EurepGAP system,
traceability systems, systems to assure
respect of authenticity and marketing norms;

system in

conformity

3. expenditure on training personnel to apply a quality manage-
ment scheme in conformity with LST EN ISO 9001:2001, an
environmental management
system in conformity with
LST EN ISO 14001:2005, a food safety management system
in conformity with LST EN ISO 22000:2005, systems based
on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), a
EurepGAP system, traceability systems, food quality schemes
recognised by national legislation, systems to assure respect
of authenticity and marketing norms;

4. expenditure on the charges levied by recognised certifying
bodies for the initial certification of a quality management
scheme in conformity with LST EN ISO 9001:2001, an
environmental management
system in conformity with
LST EN ISO 14001:2005, a food safety management system
in conformity with LST EN ISO 22000:2005, systems based
on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), a
EurepGAP system, traceability systems, food quality schemes
recognised by national legislation, systems to assure respect
of authenticity and marketing norms;

5. expenditure on control measures undertaken by third-party
inspection bodies, unless Community legislation requires
enterprises to bear such costs. Aid is not granted to cover
organic
expenditure
production if the applicant is participating in the ‘Organic
farming’ programme of the ‘Agri-environmental expenditure’
measure under the Lithuanian rural development programme
for
by Commission Decision
C(2007) 5076 of 19 October 2007

on monitoring

2007-2013,

supervising

approved

and

Economic
products

sector(s):

Primary production of

agricultural

Name and address of the granting authority:

Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministerija
Gedimino pr.19 (Lelevelio g.6)
LT-01103 Vilnius

http://www.zum.lt/min/Isakymai/dsp_isakymas.cfm?Isakymas
ID=3431&langparam=LT

http://www.zum.lt/min/Isakymai/dsp_isakymas.cfm?Isakymas
ID=3868&langparam=LT

Other information: —

Aid No: XA 191/08

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: England

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initia-
tive (ECSFDI) 2008 to 2015

Legal basis: This is a non-statutory service, participation in
which is voluntary. The Agriculture Act 1986 (section 1c)
provides the legal basis for the provision by Government of
services in connection with any agricultural activity

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

May 2008-31 March 2009

GBP 7,9 million

1 April 2009-31 March 2010

GBP 7,9 million

1 April 2010-31 March 2011

GBP 7,9 million

1 April 2011-31 March 2012

GBP 7,9 million

1 April 2012-31 March 2013

GBP 7,9 million

1 April 2013-31 March 2014

GBP 7,9 million

1 April 2014-31 March 2015

GBP 7,9 million

Total

GBP 55,3 million

Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 100 %
in line with Article 15 of the Regulation

Date of implementation: The new programme will start on
the date the Commission publishes this summary

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme
will begin on the date the Commission publishes this summary.
It will close on the 31 March 2015. The last date for applica-
tions is the 28 February 2015. The last date of payment will be
31 March 2015

24.9.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Objective of aid:

Environmental protection. The aim of the ECSFDI is to raise
awareness of diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA)
and to encourage early voluntary action by farmers to tackle
DWPA. The geographic focus of the Initiative is currently forty
priority catchments. These are shown at Annex A. It should be
noted that these priority catchments will change during the
the Initiative and that some advice services are
course of
provided in the wider area (outside of the priority catchments).
The Initiative will contribute to the achievement of domestic
and international environmental targets, in particular the Water
Framework Directive (WFD). The advice being made available to
farmers under the ECSFDI is in accordance with Article 15 of
Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 which governs the provision of
‘technical support’ aid to agricultural businesses.

The eligible costs will be consultancy for the mitigation of
diffuse water pollution

Sectors concerned: The beneficiaries of the ECSFDI will be
involved in the production of agricultural products only. All
subsectors will be eligible

Name and address of the granting authority:

The statutory body responsible for the Initiative is:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA
Water Quality Division
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AL
United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:
The Initiative is managed on DEFRA's behalf by Natural England
and the Environment Agency:
Integrated Services & Partnerships Team
John Dower House
Crescent Place
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL50 3RA
United Kingdom

Website:
More information on the ECSFDI can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/water/csf/pdf/
state-aid-ecsfdi2008.pdf

Other information:
The ECSFDI is broadly similar to the Wales Catchment Sensitive
Farming Project, which is also an exempted State aid.

Beneficiaries will not be able to choose the service provider. The
service provider will be contracted by Natural England, an
Executive Agency of the UK Government, working in partner-
ship with the Environment Agency, which is the Competent
Authority for the WFD.

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (UK Competent Authority)
M. Duncan Kerr
UK Agricultural State Aid Adviser
DEFRA
Area 5D, 9 Millbank
C/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
Westminster
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom

Annex A

PRIORITY CATCHMENTS

Catchment Identifier

Catchment Name

Anglia River Basin District (RBD) catchments

1

2

4a

4b

9

10

14

15

17

31

Bure Ant and Muckfleet

River Wensum

Yare

Waveney

North Norfolk Rivers

Little Ouse (Thetford area)

Lincolnshire Coast Rivers

Deben, Alde & Ore

River Nar

Gipping & Orwell

C 243/20

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Official Journal of the European Union

24.9.2008

Catchment Identifier

Catchment Name

Humber RBD catchments

6

8

21

30

39

East Riding of Yorkshire & North Lincs

Yorkshire Ouse, Nidd and Swale

Yorkshire Derwent

Peak District Dales — West Midlands, East Midlands

River Eye

North-West RBD catchments

11

34

River Wyre

Bassenthwaite Lake

Solway and Tweed RBD catchments

19

25

32

River Waver and Biglands Bog

Tweed Catchment Rivers (England only)

River Eden and tributaries

Severn RBD catchments

3

7

23

28

36

South-East RBD catchments

29a

29b

35

37

40

South-West RBD catchments

West Midlands Meres

River Lugg (England only)

River Wye (England only)

River Teme (England only)

North Somerset Moors

Rivers Test

Rivers Itchen

Eastern Rother

The Stour

Pevensey

5

12

13

16

18

20

22

24

26

27

38

Rivers Axe and Otter

Somerset Levels and Moors

Slapton Ley, Salcombe to Kingsbridge

West Cornwall Catchments

Exe Estuary

The Frome, The Fleet, part of Poole Harbour

Tamar — Tavy Estuary

Hamoshire Avon System

Dorset Stour (middle reaches)

River Camel Valley and tributaries

Yealm and Erme Estuaries

Thames RBD catchments

33

Rivers Lambourne and Kennet

24.9.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 243/21

Aid No: XA 197/08

Member State: Republic of Lithuania

Region: —

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving indivi-
dual aid: Techninės paramos
(konsultacinėms paslaugomis)
teikimas žemės ūkio sektoriuje

Legal basis: Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministro 2008 m.
balandžio 18 d. įsakymas Nr. 3D-222 „Dėl žemės ūkio ministro
2006 m. balandžio 25 d. įsakymo Nr. 3D-171 „Dėl žemdirbių
konsultavimo finansavimo taisyklių“ pakeitimo“ (Žin., 2008, Nr.
…)

Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall
aid granted to the company:
amount of
LTL
rate
8 000 000,
(EUR 2 316 960)

individual

exchange

official

euro

the

at

Maximum aid intensity:

Eligible expenditure:

1. remuneration of consultants and specialists;

2. social security and guarantee fund contributions;

3. communication costs;

4. transport costs;

5. expenditure on the rental and operation of premises;

6. cost of drafting and printing consultation material and

information;

7. cost of renting the means and equipment necessary for the

provision of consultancy services;

8. cost of purchasing computer programs and tools necessary

for the provision of consultancy services;

9. photocopying and computer hardware maintenance and

operating costs;

10. administrative and other costs directly related to consul-

1. 100 % as regards the cost of an individual consultation of up

tancy activities

to half an hour's duration;

2. 100 % as regards the cost of an individual consultation of up

to one hour's duration;

3. 80 % as regards the cost of an individual consultation of

more than one hour's duration;

4. 100 % as regards the cost of organising one consultation
seminar (of not less than four academic hours' duration and
with not less than 12 participants);

5. 100 % of the cost of organising one field day;

6. 100 % as regards the cost of drafting and printing an infor-

mation Article (one A4 page);

7. 100 % as regards the cost of drafting and printing a leaflet

(one A4 page)

Date of implementation: 5 June 2008

Duration of the aid scheme or the individual aid: Until
31 December 2013

Objective of aid:

Aid to SMEs.

Economic
products

sector(s):

Primary production of

agricultural

Name and address of the granting authority:
Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio ministerija
Gedimino pr.19 (Lelevelio g.6)
LT-01103 Vilnius

Website:
http://www.zum.lt/min/Isakymai/dsp_isakymas.cfm?Isakymas
ID=3584&langparam=LT

Other information: —

Kazys SIVICKIS
Undersecretary of
Lithuania

the Ministry of Agriculture of

the Republic of

Aid No: XA 201/08

Member State: United Kingdom

Region: Wales

Provision of technical assistance in the agricultural sector with a
view to developing competitive and efficient agriculture and
alternatives to farming in rural areas.

Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an indi-
vidual aid: Cynllun Grant Tirwedd Tywi (Tywi Landscape Grant
Scheme)

Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 applies

Legal basis: Local Government Act 2000

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

Activity

Financial year
2008/2009

Financial year
2009/2010

Financial year
2010/2011

Overall total

Landowner Grant Scheme

GBP 103 000

GBP 124 000

GBP 120 000

GBP 347 000

Training

GBP 2 000

GBP 4 200

GBP 3 000

GBP 9 200

C 243/22

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Official Journal of the European Union

24.9.2008

Maximum aid intensity: The aid intensity is 100 %

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

Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme
will begin on 3 June 2008. It will close on the 31 December
2011. The last payment will be made on 31 December 2011

Objective of aid:

Primary objective

To conserve traditional
landscapes and buildings through the
provision of a capital grant scheme which is in line with
Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.

Aid will only be made available for investments which protect
or enhance the landscape heritage. The project area is a tradi-
tional
landscape of high conservation value identified in the
local biodiversity action plan. Aid may be paid at one of three
rates:

1.

2.

in cases where a grant is awarded for a non productive asset
the rate of aid will be 100 % in accordance with Article 5(2)
of the Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006;

in cases where investments or capital works are intended for
the conservation of heritage features of productive assets on
farms, such as farm buildings, aid may be granted at 60 % of
the real costs incurred provided that the investment does not
entail any increase in the production capacity of the farm.
This shall apply as regards eligible expenses from under-
taking the
contemporary
materials. Additional aid may be granted at a rate of up to
100 % to cover the extra cost incurred by using traditional
materials necessary to maintain the heritage features of the
asset;

relevant work using normal

3. where there is an increase in production capacity, the aid rate
will not exceed 40 % of eligible investments. This shall apply
as regards eligible expenses from undertaking the relevant
work using normal contemporary materials. Additional aid
may be granted at a rate of up to 100 % to cover the extra
cost
incurred by using traditional materials necessary to
maintain the heritage features of the asset.

A decision on the rate of aid to be paid will be made on a case
by case basis, whereby each case will be assessed as to whether
it is a non productive asset, a productive asset or will result in
an increase in production capacity.

Secondary objective

To provide training programmes for farmers and farmworkers
in the skills required to conserve traditional landscape features
and buildings. The aid is in line with Article 15 of Regulation
(EC) No 1857/2006 and the eligible costs will be the cost of

organising the training programmes and consultancy services.
Aid to non agricultural businesses agricultural processing and
marketing businesses will be provided in accordance with
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006

Sector(s) concerned:

The scheme applies to businesses active in the production of
agricultural products. Eligible businesses must be classified a
‘small or medium sized enterprise’ which means that the benefi-
ciaries of this scheme (as opposed to the service providers) must
have less than 250 employees, less than EUR 50 million annual
turnover or EUR 43 million balance sheet equity, and not be
owned at a rate more than 25 % by other companies.

No money will be paid directly to producers in respect to the
provision of training and education

Name and address of the granting authority:
Carmarthenshire County Council
County Hall
Carmarthen SA31 1LQ
United Kingdom

The statutory body responsible for the scheme is:
Carmarthenshire County Council
County Hall
Carmarthen SA31 1LQ
United Kingdom

The organisation operating the scheme is:
Carmarthenshire County Council as lead body for the Tywi
Afon yr Oesoedd (Tywi a River Through Time) Landscape Part-
nership

Website:
http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/ccc_apps/tywi/press %
20releases/State %20Aid %20V3.final.doc

Other information:

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

Signed and dated on behalf of the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (UK Competent Authority)
M. Duncan Kerr
UK Agricultural State Aid Adviser
DEFRA
Area 5D, 9 Millbank
C/o Nobel House
17 Smith Square
Westminster
London SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom