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: 2009-08-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, State aid, agricultural production, control of State aid, exchange of information, organic farming, organic product








C_2009184EN.01000801.xml










6.8.2009   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 184/8





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
2009/C 184/04
Aid No: XA 130/09
Member State: Belgium
Region: Vlaanderen
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Subsidie voor project omschakeling naar de biologische productie van BB-Consult
Legal basis: Subsidiebesluit van de Vlaamse Regering van 12 december 2008 tot toekenning van een subsidie voor het project omschakeling naar de biologische productie
Overall amount of individual aid granted to the enterprise: EUR 0,11 million on an annual basis
Maximum aid intensity: 100 %
Date of implementation: 
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 2 years ending on 30 June 2011
Objective of aid: The measure comes under Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006: technical support in the agricultural sector. The aid may cover 100 % of the following costs (Article 15(2)(c)): consultancy services provided by third parties which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity or relate to usual operating expenditure.
The aid is to be granted to BB-Consult vzw for the purpose of recruiting a switchover supervisor. Devising the thematic content of the job will be shared between the legal employer BB-Consult (project organisation) and the two structural project partners, ABS and BioForum.
The switchover supervisor must ensure in particular that:
the barriers to farmers and market gardeners switching to organic production are reduced,
farmers are closely supervised when moving towards a switchover.
These targets must be achieved by means of wide-ranging awareness campaigns, a more personal approach to farmers on the basis of a target group analysis and practical supervision of interested farmers at holding level.
All parts of Article 15 will be complied with
Sector(s) concerned: Agricultural sector (NACE A1). 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




1030 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË




Website: http://lv.vlaanderen.be/nlapps/docs/default.asp?id=1271
Other information: —



Secretary-General

Jules VAN LIEFFERINGE



Aid No: XA 131/09
Member State: Belgium
Region: Vlaanderen
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving individual aid: Subsidie Netwerk Bioforum Vlaanderen
Legal basis: Ministerieel besluit tot toekenning van een subsidie voor het project Netwerk Bioforum — Financiering kerntaken Bioforum Vlaanderen van Bioforum Vlaanderen vzw
Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering tot toekenning van een subsidie voor het project uitbouw van een coördinatie- en overlegstructuur voor vlaamse bioboeren, -verwerkers en -verkooppunten
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 0,67 million
Maximum aid intensity: The maximum aid intensity is 100 % of the proven costs of the aid project submitted. Overheads are not eligible for aid
Date of implementation: 1 May 2009. The stand-still principle will be complied with
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The aid is granted for a period of two years up to 1 May 2011
Objective of aid: Bioforum carries out the following core activities:
representation of the Flemish organic sector in various forums, e.g. NOBL, VLAM, Stuurgroep Strategisch Plan Bio, PCBT, IFOAM and forums indirectly connected with organic farming, such as Kauri,
work relating to legislation on organic production: Bioforum coordinates operators’ views and voices them to the Government. This coordination is performed within the coordination teams dealing with legislation and policy respectively. In particular, Bioforum advises the Government on the introduction of new legislation and further harmonisation of existing legislation. It also points out any problems relating to the interpretation of legislation,
policy support: Bioforum monitors the broad policy framework (agricultural policy, rural policy, environment policy, etc.) in which organic farmers operate, explains it to farmers via an internal training programme and assists them in seeking solutions to specific problems,
coordinated input by the sector to the content of the Strategic Plan for Organic Farming 2008-2012. As a member of the steering group for the Strategic Plan, Bioforum helps shape the annual action plan for organic farming,
implementation of levers under the Strategic Plan for Organic Farming 2008-2012:






—


communication: Bioforum is working on a joint communication strategy with VLAM, ADLO and Velt,










—


chain operations: Bioforum carries out market studies for the following product chains: vegetables, fruit, arable crops, eggs, meat and milk,










—


support for switching to organic production: Bioforum draws up new leaflets on switching and closely monitors BB-Consult's switchover assistance, tries to reach agreements with market operators on the efforts to be made and supervises the introduction of organic produce in government and company catering,










—


integration of organic production in other policy areas,




coordination of sectoral events:






—


defining positions and building visions,










—


alignment of communications issued by the organic sector,










—


coordination of communications on crises,




Bioforum uses the following instruments to inform the public at large and the organic market operators:






—


Bioforum website,










—


Biodichtbijhuis website,










—


Puur Magazine,










—


publications: BioGenietengids, a health booklet,










—


electronic newsletter: Bioknipsels,










—


question and answer service,










—


press work,










—


information and promotion stand,




Bioforum informs and supports organic market operators as follows:






—


assistance with content (e.g. preparation of files),










—


development and making available of specific expertise (e.g. structural assistance, drafting of texts, start up of projects, evaluation),










—


launching of partnerships and joint ventures,










—


Bio Actief magazine,










—


Biobedrijvengids,










—


specific information on the website,










—


dissemination of up-to-date information on new legislation,










—


launch of the communication procedure for crises.




It 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 factual information on quality 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: Agricultural sector NACE A1
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




1030 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË




Website: http://lv.vlaanderen.be/nlapps/docs/default.asp?id=1271
Aid No: XA 132/09
Member State: Republic of Slovenia
Region: Territory of the Republic of Slovenia
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: NADZOR VAROZE
Legal basis: 






—


Uredba o spremembi uredbe o izvajanju Programa ukrepov na področju čebelarstva v Republiki Sloveniji v letih 2008–2010 za leto 2009 (UL RS, št. 28/09),










—


Uredba o izvajanju Programa ukrepov na področju čebelarstva v Republiki Sloveniji v letih 2008–2010 za leto 2009 (UL RS, št. 112/08),










—


Operativni program zatiranja varoj za leto 2009 (Operational programme to exterminate the varroa mite in 2009),










—


Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)




Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: 2009 — EUR 280 000
Maximum aid intensity: 






—


up to 100 % of eligible costs for the prevention and eradication of varroa infestation. 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: 4 May 2009 (the aid will not be granted until a summary has been published on the European Commission's website)
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: 
Objective of aid: 






—


to support SMEs




Reference to Articles in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 and eligible costs: The aid scheme notified under the above legal bases is in accordance with the first paragraph of Article 10 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 agricultural products and amending Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 (OJ L 358, 16.12.2006, p. 3) and does not include aid to compensate farmers for losses caused by the varroa mite (Article 19(2))
Sector(s) concerned: Agriculture
Name and address of the granting authority: 





Ministrstvo za kmetijstvo




gozdarstvo in prehrano




Dunajska 56




SI-1000 Ljubljana




SLOVENIJA




Website: Amendment to the Decree:
http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=200928&objava=1262
Decree:
http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=2008112&objava=4847
2009-2010 programme:
http://www.mkgp.gov.si/si/o_ministrstvu/direktorati/direktorat_za_kmetijstvo/starasektor_za_kmetijske_trge/med/
Operational programme to exterminate the varroa mite in 2009:
http://www.mkgp.gov.si/si/o_ministrstvu/direktorati/direktorat_za_kmetijstvo/starasektor_za_kmetijske_trge/med/
Other information: The above legal bases meet the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 relating to the varroa extermination measures to be adopted by the Republic of Slovenia and the general provisions applicable.
The Commission decision approving the Programme of measures in the area of apiculture in the Republic of Slovenia for the years 2008-2010 was issued on 14 August 2007 (official notification to the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union, Brussels, S-G, Greffe (2007) D/205049 of 14 August 2007).
The aid will be granted in respect of varroatosis, which is mentioned in the list of animal diseases established by the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Signature of person responsible:


Branko RAVNIK


Direktor



Aid No: XA 133/09
Member State: Italy
Title of aid scheme: Miglioramento della qualità e della logistica del prodotto biologico (unicamente per la produzione biologica primaria)
Legal basis: Decreto Ministeriale 24 dicembre 2008 n. 11369
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Individual aid. The maximum planned expenditure is EUR 300 000
Maximum aid intensity: The aid covers 50 % of the overall cost of the project and does not involve direct payments to individual organic producers
Date of implementation: The scheme will take effect on the date of publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Duration of scheme: The aid will be granted between 2010 and the first semester of 2011.
All projects must be completed within 12 months following the date of approval
Objective of aid: In relation to the objectives set out in the 2007 national programme for organic farming and products (Programma di azione nazionale per l’agricoltura biologica e i prodotti biologici per l’anno 2007), the actions to be funded are aimed at improving the quality of organic products through market surveys, training of organic producers, advisory services, feasibility studies, etc.).
The individual actions fall within those set out in Articles 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.
Those entitled to submit projects are individual operator associations or interprofessional associations or groups thereof, provided that:
Sector(s) concerned: All organic primary agricultural products
Granting authority: 





Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali




Dipartimento delle politiche di sviluppo economico e rurale




Via XX Settembre 20




00187 Roma RM




ITALIA




Website: http://www.politicheagricole.it/ConcorsiGare
Other information: The act governing the implementation of the aid shall be published in the official gazette of the Italian Republic and on the Ministry's website http://www.politicheagricole.it/ConcorsiGare
Relevant documents and information will be published in the same section.
For the organic product processing and marketing sectors, a request for exemption will be lodged under Regulation (EC) No 800/2008
Aid No: XA 134/09
Member State: Italy
Title of aid scheme: Sostegno all’interprofessione e miglioramento della qualità e della logistica del prodotto biologico (unicamente per la produzione biologica primaria)
Legal basis: Decreto Ministeriale 24 dicembre 2008 n. 11370
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme: Individual aid. The maximum planned expenditure is EUR 2 million, broken down as follows:
Maximum aid intensity: The aid covers 80 % of the overall cost of the project and does not involve direct payments to individual organic producers
Date of implementation: The scheme will take effect on the date of publication of the registration number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Duration of scheme: The aid will be granted between 2010 and the first semester of 2011.
All projects must be completed within 12 months following the date of approval
Objective of aid: In relation to the objectives set out in the 2007 national programme for organic farming and products (Programma di azione nazionale per l′agricoltura biologica e i prodotti biologici per l′anno 2007), the actions to be funded are aimed at supporting interprofessional organisations (by strengthening the organisational skills of the organic sector and improving the communications of sector operators) and at improving the quality of organic products (through market surveys, training of organic producers, advisory services, feasibility studies, etc.).
The individual actions fall within those set out in Articles 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.
Those entitled to submit projects are individual operator associations or interprofessional associations or groups thereof, provided that:
Sector(s) concerned: All organic primary agricultural products
Name and address of the granting authority: 





Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali




Dipartimento delle politiche di sviluppo economico e rurale




Via XX Settembre 20




00187 Roma RM




ITALIA




Website: http://www.politicheagricole.it/ConcorsiGare
Other information: The act governing the implementation of the aid shall be published in the official gazette of the Italian Republic and on the Ministry's website http://www.politicheagricole.it/ConcorsiGare
Relevant documents and information will be published in the same section.
For the organic product processing and marketing sectors, a request for exemption will be lodged under Regulation (EC) No 800/2008