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: 2011-02-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: State aid, agricultural production, aid to agriculture, aid to undertakings, animal disease, control of State aid, natural disaster, small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainable agriculture








C_2011045EN.01001201.xml










12.2.2011   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 45/12





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
2011/C 45/06
Aid No: XA 160/10
Member State: Slovak Republic
Region/Authority granting the aid: All regions of the Slovak Republic
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Schéma štátnej pomoci na úhradu škôd na poľnohospodárskych plodinách spôsobených nepriaznivou poveternostnou udalosťou, ktorú možno prirovnať k prírodnej katastrofe pre mikro, malé a stredné podniky.
Legal basis: 






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§ 5 zákona č. 267/2010 Z. z. z 10. júna 2010 o poskytovaní dotácie na kompenzáciu strát spôsobených nepriaznivou poveternostnou udalosťou, ktorú možno prirovnať k prírodnej katastrofe, prírodnou katastrofou alebo mimoriadnou udalosťou,










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Articles 11 and 18 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,










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Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General Block Exemption Regulation), OJ L 214, 9.8.2008,










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zákon č. 231/1999 Z. z. o štátnej pomoci v znení neskorších predpisov.




Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The planned volume of funding under the scheme for 2010 is EUR 10 million.
The overall planned volume of funding under the scheme for the period 2010-2013 is EUR 40 million.
Maximum aid intensity: 80 % of the loss, where the grower is insured and has taken out an insurance policy covering at least 50 % of his average annual production or income from the production of the relevant agricultural products on his farm and where the insurance covers the most statistically significant weather events in the Slovak Republic, as determined by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (Slovenský hydrometeorologický ústav),
90 % of the loss, where the grower operates in a less favoured area and has taken out an insurance policy covering at least 50 % of his average annual production or income from the production of the relevant agricultural products on his farm and where the insurance covers the most statistically significant weather events in the Slovak Republic, as determined by the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (Slovenský hydrometeorologický ústav),
40 % of the loss, where the grower is not insured or has taken out an insurance policy covering less than 50 % of his average annual production or income from the production of the relevant agricultural products on his farm,
45 % of the loss, where the grower operates in a less favoured area, is not insured or has taken out an insurance policy covering less than 50 % of his average annual production or income from the production of the relevant agricultural products on his farm.
The subsidy may be granted in cases where the loss is at least EUR 2 000.
Date of implementation: The scheme will enter into force on the date on which the application for exemption is assigned an identification number and the summary information is published on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.
The scheme is published on the following website: http://www.land.gov.sk/sk/index.php?navID=161&id=4016
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will expire on 31 December 2013.
Objective of aid: The objective of the aid is to provide compensation for damage caused to plant primary production as a result of an adverse weather event which can be compared to a natural disaster.
Compensation under this scheme will be granted in particular where damage is caused by:
An adverse weather event which can be compared to a natural disaster is one which destroys more than 30 % of the average annual production of a given grower of crops in the preceding three-year period or of a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period, excluding the highest and lowest year for the entire farm.
Sector(s) concerned: Division A — Agriculture, forestry and fishing
01 — Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities
Name and address of the granting authority: 





Ministerstvo pôdohospodárstva, životného prostredia a regionálneho rozvoja SR




Dobrovičova 12




812 66 Bratislava




SLOVENSKO/SLOVAKIA




Tel. +421 259266111




Website: http://www.land.gov.sk/sk/index.php?navID=161&id=4016
Other information: ‘Adverse climatic event which can be compared to a natural disaster’ means weather conditions such as frost, hail, ice, rain or drought which destroy more than 30 % of the average of annual production of a given farmer in the preceding three-year period or a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period, excluding the highest and lowest year. The following costs are therefore considered to be eligible:
The loss (reduction in income) is calculated by multiplying the average annual quantity produced in the preceding three-year period (or a three-year average based on the preceding five-year period, excluding the highest and lowest year) by the average selling price obtained and then by deducting the quantity of product produced in the year of the adverse climatic event multiplied by the average selling price obtained during that year. The loss calculated in this way is reduced by any sums deducted under the insurance scheme and by costs not incurred as a result of the adverse weather events. The calculation is carried out at the level of the individual farm.
The aid must meet all the requirements of Articles 2(8) and 11 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.
Aid No: XA 190/10
Member State: Netherlands
Region: —
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Subsidie Gebiedscoöperatie Oregional
Legal basis: Besluit Milieusubsidies
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 1 million
Maximum aid intensity: For this aid measure, the maximum aid intensity will be 100 % of the eligible costs (see under Objective of aid).
Date of implementation: 15 October 2010 — implementation will start after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, as referred to in Article 18(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The individual aid award will take place in four instalments during the period 2010 to 2013.
Objective of aid: The main objective of the aid measure is to support small and medium-sized enterprises. The secondary objective is, through the Gebiedscoöperatie Oregional, to sell sustainable regional agricultural products in a structurally appropriate manner over the coming three years in the Nijmegen region. The most important sticking point in this regard is balancing regional product supply and demand. The aim of the subsidised project is to remove the bottlenecks so that demand for sustainable regional agricultural products, particularly on the part of care establishments, schools/colleges, company canteens and hotels, restaurants and cafés, can be met in a structurally appropriate manner.
The following articles of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 will be used:
Article 14 — Aid to encourage the production of quality agricultural products
The following costs are eligible for subsidy:






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100 % of the costs of market research, product conception and design










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100 % of the costs of the introduction of quality assurance schemes










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100 % of the costs of training personnel to apply quality assurance schemes










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100 % of the costs of the charges levied by recognised certifying bodies for the initial certification of quality assurance and similar systems.




Article 15 — Aid for technical support in the agricultural sector
The following costs are eligible for subsidy:






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the costs of education and training of farmers and farm workers










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the costs of consultancy services, provided by third parties, which do not constitute a continuous or periodic activity nor relate to the enterprise's usual operating expenditure










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the costs of the organisation of and participation in forums to share knowledge between businesses, competitions, exhibitions and fairs










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the costs of the dissemination of scientific knowledge










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the costs of publications such as catalogues or websites presenting factual information about producers from a given region or producers of a given product, provided that the information and presentation are neutral and that all producers concerned have equal opportunities to be represented in the publication.




Sector(s) concerned: All small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises active in the primary production of products referred to in Annex I to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Name and address of the granting authority: 





Ministerie van VROM




Postbus 20951




2500 EZ Den Haag




NEDERLAND




Website: http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/besluiten/2010/10/01/verstrekking-subsidie-project-duurzaam-inkopen-van-regionale-producten.html
Other information: For granting this subsidy, in addition to Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 use will also be made of Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 (the General Block Exemption Regulation). The subsidy amount of EUR 1 million will largely be used for agricultural enterprises. The remainder will be spent on SMEs.
It is not possible to say in advance which enterprises will receive what amount.
Aid No: XA 191/10
Member State: Italy
Region: Lombardia
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Misure regionali di sostegno degli allevamenti suinicolo colpiti da virus della malattia vescicolare dei suini — indennizzi per mancato reddito per sospensione delle fecondazioni
Legal basis: DGR n. 581 del 6.10.2010«Misure regionali di sostegno degli allevamenti suinicolo colpiti da virus della malattia vescicolare dei suini — indennizzi per mancato reddito per sospensione delle fecondazioni»
L.R. 31/2008 (Testo unico Leggi Agricoltura) art. 18
Decreto DG Sanità n. 6929 del 26.6.2007
Decreto DG Sanità n. 9348 del 27.8.2007
Provvedimento DG Sanità prot. H1.2007.0046390 del 29.10.2007«Malattia vescicolare dei suini — intervento straordinario».
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: EUR 2 000 000
Maximum aid intensity: Up to 100 % of the eligible cost, in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006
Date of implementation: From the date of publication of the identification number for the request for exemption on the website of the Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: The scheme will expire on 31 December 2011.
Objective of aid: Aid to compensate breeders for loss of income due to the suspension of insemination on account of health authority measures to eradicate swine vesicular disease
Sector(s) concerned: A10406 — Pig breeding
Name and address of the granting authority: 





Regione Lombardia




DG Agricoltura




Via Pola 12/14




20124 Milano MI




ITALIA




Website: (see Other information below)
Other information: http://www.regione.lombardia.it, click on the following links in order: ‘Settori e politiche’, ‘Agricoltura’, ‘Argomenti’, ‘Aiuti di stato nel settore agricolo: pubblicazione dei regimi di aiuto’.
Aid No: XA 196/10
Member State: Italy
Region: Basilicata
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Sostegno delle aziende agricole per l'abbattimento di frutteti colpiti da Sharka
Legal basis: 






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Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community and in particular Article 16(1).










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legge 1 luglio 1997, n. 206 Norme in favore delle produzioni agricole danneggiate da organismi nocivi,










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decreto del ministero delle politiche agricole, alimentari e forestali del 28 luglio 2009 recante lotta obbligatoria per il controllo del virus Plum pox virus (PPV), agente della «Vaiolatura delle drupacee» (Sharka),










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delibera di Giunta Regionale n. 1591 del 21 settembre 2010 avente per oggetto:




Misure regionali di sostegno delle aziende frutticole colpite da Vaiolatura delle drupacee (Sharka), causate dall’agente patogeno Plum pox virus. Approvazione criteri e modulistica e contestuale apertura bando. Anno 2010.
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total budget of the aid scheme for the entire period from 1 November 2010 to 30 April 2011 amounts to EUR 328 000,00.
Maximum aid intensity: The aid is calculated exclusively with regard to the market value of the destroyed plants and the income losses due to quarantine obligations and difficulties in replanting. The compensation amounts are fixed as follows:
The minimum amount payable per individual beneficiary is fixed at EUR 250,00. No aid will therefore be granted for lower amounts.
Date of implementation: From 1 November 2010
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: Until 30 April 2011
Objective of aid: The virus (Plum pox virus) responsible for the disease known as Sharka is acknowledged to be a harmful organism requiring quarantine. The ban upon introducing it into the European Union and into Italy and against its spread is laid down by Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 and by Legislative Decree No 214 of 19 August 2005 respectively.
The gravity of this disease is such that the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy issued the Decree of 28 July 2009 on the mandatory combat to control the Plum pox virus (PPV), which causes Sharka.
The aim of the aid measures is to eradicate infected plants and orchards.
In accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006, in order to save regional fruit production, Italy has decided to continue what was done in 2008 and 2009 and to set up an aid scheme to compensate fruit producers for the costs of eradicating outbreaks. The aid is calculated exclusively with regard to the market value of the destroyed plants and the income losses due to quarantine obligations and difficulties in replanting.
Sector(s) concerned: Apricot, peach and nectarine orchards.
Name and address of the granting authority: Regione Basilicata — Dipartimento agricoltura, sviluppo rurale, economia montana
Website: http://www.regione.basilicata.it/giunta/site/giunta/department.jsp?dep=100049&area=111544&otype=1058&id=538603
Other information: In 2010, overall 12 orchards with a total area of 22 hectares were officially certified as being infected by Sharka and immediately uprooted.
Aid No: XA 198/10
Member State: Italy
Region: Sardegna
Title of aid scheme or name of company receiving an individual aid: Legge regionale 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23 (aiuti per i danni alla produzione agricola).
Aiuti a favore delle aziende colpite da tubercolosi bovina nel periodo 1o gennaio 2009-31 dicembre 2010. Spesa 300 000 EUR.
Legal basis: L.R. 11 marzo 1998, n. 8, articolo 23
Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 32/25 del 15 settembre 2010 recante «Aiuti per la perdita di reddito a favore delle aziende colpite da tubercolosi bovina nel periodo 1o gennaio 2009-31 dicembre 2010». Spesa 300 000 EUR.
Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 13/26 del 4 marzo 2008 — All. B
Deliberazione della Giunta regionale n. 34/19 del 19 giugno 2008 — All. B
Annual expenditure planned under the scheme or overall amount of individual aid granted to the company: The total financial allocation for the aid, covering losses that occurred in 2009 and 2010, amounts to EUR 300 000,00.
Maximum aid intensity: Aid for loss of income:
100 % of the loss of income calculated according to the procedure detailed in point 2 of the implementing rules laid down in Annex B) to Regional Executive Order (DGR) No 34/19 of 19 June 2008.
Date of implementation: The aid applies with effect from the date of publication of the identification number of the request for exemption on the website of the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Duration of scheme or individual aid award: For 2009: until 31 December 2012
For 2010: until 31 December 2013
Objective of aid: Aid for loss of income is granted in accordance with the provisions of Article 10(2)(a)(ii) of Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006.
Sector(s) concerned: Animal production: cattle
Name and address of the granting authority: 





Regione Autonoma della Sardegna




Assessorato dell’agricoltura e riforma agro-pastorale




Via Pessagno 4




09125 Cagliari CA




ITALIA




Website: 






 


deliberazione n. 32/25 del 15 settembre 2009:
http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_72_20100920141740.pdf










 


deliberazione n. 13/26 del 4 marzo 2008:
http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_73_20080306104215.pdf










 


allegato B:
http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_73_20080306104251.pdf










 


deliberazione n. 34/19 del 19 giugno 2008:
http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_72_20080619175155.pdf










 


allegato B:
http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_72_20080624123014.pdf




Other information: The aid is intended to compensate the owners of cattle farms in the region where there have been outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis for losses resulting from the application of the following restrictive measures imposed by the health authorities, in the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010, under the plan to eradicate bovine tuberculosis:
prohibition to breed (decreased veal calf birth-rates = reduced meat production = loss of income),
prohibition to restock (this leads to difficulty in rebuilding the herd following compulsory slaughter, so reduced veal calf birth-rates = reduced meat production = loss of income).
The intended beneficiaries of this aid, namely farms practising extensive and semi-extensive livestock farming, do not as a rule incur costs to purchase feed and forage produced outside the farm in that adult animals, both dams and bulls, are fed principally with fodder that grows wild on the farm for which reason the density of livestock units (LU) per hectare is based on the natural fodder available, while calves are fed with their mother's milk and sold once they are weaned.
For this reason production costs not incurred by the farms because of the imposed restrictions indicated above should not be deducted from the amount of the aid.
Any sums received by farmers through voluntary or subsidised insurance schemes, however, will be deducted from the aid granted.


Bianca CARBONI

Direttore Servizio sostegno delle imprese agricole e sviluppo delle competenze