1.   Member States shall recognise producer organisations in respect of the product or the group of products specified in the application for recognition.

2.   Member States shall recognise producer organisations in respect of the product or the group of products solely intended for processing where the producer organisations are able to ensure that such products are delivered for processing, whether through a system of supply contracts or otherwise.

1.   The minimum membership period of a producer shall not be less than one year.

2.   Resignation from membership shall be notified to the producer organisation in writing. Member States shall lay down the notice period, which shall not exceed six months, and the date on which resignation shall take effect.

1.   For the purposes of Article 154(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the value or volume of marketable production shall be calculated on the same basis as the value of marketed production set out in Articles 22 and 23 of this Regulation.

2.   In circumstances when the historical data on marketed production of a member for the application of paragraph 1 is not sufficient, the value of the marketable production shall be equal to the actual value of marketed production during a period of 12 consecutive months. Those 12 months shall fall within the three years preceding the year in which the application for recognition is submitted.

1.   The main activity of a producer organisation shall relate to the concentration of supply and the placing on the market of the products of its members for which it is recognised.

The placing on the market referred to in the first subparagraph shall be carried out by the producer organisation, or under the control of the producer organisation in the case of outsourcing as set out in Article 13. Placing on the market shall include among others the decision on the product to be sold, the way of selling and unless the sale is by means of auction, the negotiation of its quantity and price.

Producer organisations shall keep records, including accounting documents, for at least five years, which demonstrate that the producer organisation concentrated supply and placed on the market members' products for which it is recognised.

2.   A producer organisation may sell products from producers that are not a member of a producer organisation or of an association of producer organisations, where it is recognised in respect of those products and provided that the economic value of that activity is below the value of its marketed production calculated in accordance with Article 22.

3.   The marketing of fruit and vegetables that are bought directly from another producer organisation and of products for which the producer organisation is not recognised shall not be considered as forming part of the producer organisation's activities.

4.   Where Article 22(8) applies, paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the subsidiaries concerned.

1.   Where the producer organisation so authorises and where this is in compliance with the terms and conditions laid down by the Member State and the producer organisation, the producer members may:

2.   The percentage of the production of any producer member marketed outside the producer organisation shall not exceed 25 % in volume or in value. However, Member States may set a lower percentage. Nevertheless, Member States may increase that percentage up to 40 % in case of products covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (8) or where producer members market their production through another producer organisation designated by their own producer organisation.

1.   The activities that a Member State may permit to be outsourced in accordance with Article 155 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall relate to the objectives as set out in Article 152(1)(c) of that Regulation and may include, among others, collecting, storing, packaging and marketing the product of the members of the producer organisation.

2.   A producer organisation outsourcing an activity shall enter into a written commercial arrangement by way of a contract, agreement or protocol with another entity, including one or several of its members or a subsidiary, for the purpose of carrying out of the activity concerned. The producer organisation shall remain responsible for ensuring the carrying out of the outsourced activity and overall management control and supervision of the commercial arrangement for the carrying out of the activity.

However, the activity shall be considered as carried out by the producer organisation if it is carried out by an association of producer organisations or a cooperative whose members are themselves cooperatives where the producer organisation is a member thereof or by a subsidiary complying with the 90 % requirement referred to in Article 22(8).

3.   The overall management control and supervision referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 shall be effective and require that the outsourcing contract, agreement or protocol:

Outsourcing contracts, agreements or protocols as well as the reports referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be kept by the producer organisation for at least 5 years for the purpose of ex-post checks and be accessible to all members on request.

1.   The head office of a transnational producer organisation shall be located in the Member State in which the organisation achieves the majority of the value of marketed production calculated in accordance with Articles 22 and 23.

Alternatively, the head office may be established in the Member State where the majority of producer members are located, if the Member States concerned so agree.

2.   Where the transnational producer organisation implements an operational programme and where, at the moment of applying for a new operational programme, the majority of the value of marketed production is achieved in another Member State or where the majority of the producer members are located in a Member State other than that where the head office of that transnational producer organisation is located, the head office shall be maintained in the current Member State until the end of the implementation of the new operational programme.

However, if at the end of the implementation of that new operational programme, the majority of the value of marketed production is still achieved or the majority of the organisation's members are still located in a Member State other than that where the head office is currently located, the head office shall be transferred to that other Member State, unless the Member States concerned agree that the location of the head office shall not be changed.

3.   The Member State in which the head office of the transnational producer organisation is located shall be responsible for the following:

1.   Where producer organisations merge, the producer organisation resulting from the merger shall assume the rights and obligations of the individual producer organisations that merged. The Member State shall ensure that the new producer organisation complies with all recognition criteria and shall assign to it a new number for the purposes of the unique identification system as referred to in Article 22 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

The producer organisation resulting from the merger may either operate the programmes in parallel and separately until 1 January of the year following the merger, or merge the operational programmes from the moment of the merger.

Article 34 of this Regulation shall apply to operational programmes that are merged.

2.   By way of derogation from the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, Member States may authorise on the basis of a duly substantiated request, operational programmes to continue to be implemented in parallel until they reach their natural conclusion.

1.   Member States may determine the conditions under which any natural or legal person who is not a producer may be accepted as a member of a producer organisation.

2.   When setting the conditions referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall ensure, in particular, compliance with Article 153(2)(c) and Article 159(a)(i) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

3.   The natural or legal persons referred to in paragraph 1 shall not:

Member States may restrict or prohibit the natural or legal persons' right to vote on decisions relating to operational funds, in line with the conditions referred to in paragraph 1.

1.   Where a producer organisation has a legal structure requiring democratic accountability under the applicable national legislation, it shall be considered to fulfill this requirement for the purposes of this Regulation unless the Member State decides otherwise.

2.   For producer organisations other than the one referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall set a maximum percentage of voting rights and shares or capital which any natural or legal person may hold in a producer organisation. The maximum percentage of voting rights and shares or capital shall be below 50 % of the total voting rights and below 50 % of the shares or capital.

In duly justified cases, Member States may set a higher maximum percentage of shares or capital that a legal person may hold in a producer organisation provided that measures are adopted to ensure that an abuse of power by such legal person is in any case avoided.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, in the case of producer organisations implementing an operational programme on 17 May 2014, the maximum percentage of shares or capital set by the Member State pursuant to the first subparagraph shall only apply after the end of that operational programme.

3.   Member States' authorities shall carry out checks, based on a risk analysis, on voting rights and shareholdings. Where the members of the producer organisation are legal persons themselves, these checks shall include the identities of the natural or legal persons that hold shares or capital of the members.

4.   Where a producer organisation is a clearly defined part of a legal entity, Member States shall adopt measures to restrict or prohibit the powers of that legal entity to modify, approve or reject decisions of the producer organisation.

1.   Member States may recognise associations of producer organisations under Article 156 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 in respect of the activity or activities concerning the product or the group of products specified in the application for recognition where the association of producer organisations is capable of carrying out effectively those activities.

2.   An association of producer organisations recognised under Article 156 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 may carry out any of the activities or functions of a producer organisation, even when the marketing of the products concerned continues to be carried out by its members.

3.   For a given product or group of products and activity, a producer organisation shall be a member only of one association of producer organisations that implements an operational programme.

4.   Member States may adopt complementary rules on recognition of associations of producer organisations.

1.   Member States may determine the conditions under which natural or legal persons other than a recognised producer organisation may be a member of an association of producer organisations.

2.   Members of a recognised association of producer organisations who are not recognised producer organisations shall not:

Member States may permit, restrict or prohibit those members' right to vote on decisions relating to operational programmes.

1.   The head office of a transnational association of producer organisations shall be located in the Member State in which the member producer organisations achieve the majority of the value of marketed production.

Alternatively, the head office may be established in the Member State where the majority of member producer organisations are located, if the Member States concerned so agree.

2.   Where the transnational association of producer organisations implements an operational programme and where, at the moment of applying for a new operational programme, the majority of the value of marketed production is achieved in another Member State or where the majority of member producer organisations are located in a Member State other than that where the head office of that transnational association is located, the head office shall be maintained in the current Member State until the end of the implementation of the new operational programme.

However, if at the end of the implementation of that new operational programme, the majority of the value of marketed production is still achieved or the majority of member producer organisations are still located in a Member State other than that where the head office is currently located, the head office shall be transferred to that other Member State, unless the Member States concerned agree that the location of the head office shall not be changed.

3.   The Member State in which the head office of the transnational association of producer organisations is located shall be responsible for the following:

1.   The value of marketed production for a producer organisation shall be calculated on the basis of the production of the producer organisation itself and its producer members, and shall only include the production of those fruit and vegetables for which the producer organisation is recognised. The value of marketed production may include fruit and vegetables that are not required to conform to the marketing standards, where those standards do not apply.

The value of marketed production for an association of producer organisations shall be calculated on the basis of the production marketed by the association of producer organisations itself and by its member producer organisations, and shall only include the production of those fruit and vegetables for which the association of producer organisations is recognised. In making this calculation duplicate counting shall be avoided.

2.   The value of the marketed production shall not include the value of processed fruit and vegetables or any other product that is not a product of the fruit and vegetables sector.

However, the value of the marketed production of fruit and vegetables intended for processing, which have been transformed into one of the processed fruit and vegetable products listed in Part X of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 or any other processed product referred to in this Article and described further in Annex I to this Regulation, by either a producer organisation, an association of producer organisations or their producer members or subsidiaries complying with the 90 % requirement referred to in paragraph 8 of this Article, either by themselves or through outsourcing, shall be calculated as a flat rate in percentage applied to the invoiced value of those processed products. That flat rate shall be:

3.   Member States may allow producer organisations to include the value of the by-products in the value of marketed production.

4.   The value of marketed production shall include the value of market withdrawals disposed of as provided for in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. The value shall be calculated on the basis of the average price of those products marketed by the producer organisation in the concerned period.

5.   Only the production of the producer organisation and its producer members which is marketed by that producer organisation shall be counted in the value of marketed production. The production of the producer members of the producer organisation marketed by another producer organisation designated by their own organisation shall be counted in the value of marketed production of the second producer organisation. Duplicate counting shall be avoided.

6.   Except where paragraph 8 applies, the marketed production of fruit and vegetables shall be invoiced at the ‘ex-producer organisation’ stage as a product listed in Part IX of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 that is prepared and packaged, excluding:

7.   The value of marketed production may also be calculated at the ‘ex-association of producer organisation’ stage and on the same basis as set out in paragraph 6.

8.   The value of marketed production may also be calculated at the ‘ex-subsidiary’ stage, on the same basis as set out in paragraph 6, provided that at least 90 % of the shares or capital of the subsidiary is owned:

9.   In case of outsourcing, the value of marketed production shall be calculated at the ‘ex-producer organisation’ stage and shall include the added economic value of the activity that has been outsourced by the producer organisation to its members, third parties or to another subsidiary than the one referred to in paragraph 8.

10.   Where a reduction in production occurs due to a natural disaster, climatic event, animal or plant diseases or pest infestations, any insurance indemnification received in respect of harvest insurance actions covered by Section 7 of Chapter III, or equivalent actions managed by the producer organisation, due to those causes may be included in the value of marketed production.

1.   Member States shall determine for each producer organisation a 12-month reference period, starting no earlier than 1 January of the year that is three years prior to the year for which the aid is requested and ending no later than 31 December of the year preceding the year for which the aid is requested.

The 12-month reference period shall be the accounting period of the producer organisation concerned.

The methodology for fixing the reference period shall not vary during an operational programme except in duly justified situations.

2.   The ceiling on Union financial assistance referred to in Article 34(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be calculated each year on the basis of the value of the marketed production during the reference period of the producers who are members of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations on 1 January of the year for which the aid is requested.

3.   As an alternative to the method set out in paragraph 2, for non-transnational producer organisations or associations of producer organisations, Member States may decide to use the actual value of the marketed production in the reference period concerned of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations in question. In that case, the rule shall apply to all non-transnational producer organisations and associations of producer organisations in that Member State.

4.   Where a reduction of at least 35 % in the value of a product has occurred due to reasons falling outside the responsibility and control of the producer organisation, the value of marketed production of that product shall be deemed to represent 65 % of its value in the previous reference period.

The producer organisation shall justify the reasons referred to in the first subparagraph to the competent authority of the Member State concerned.

This paragraph shall also apply for the purpose of determining compliance with the minimum value of marketed production as provided for in Article 9.

5.   Where historical data on marketed production for newly recognised producer organisations is insufficient for the purpose of the application of paragraph 1, the value of marketed production shall be the value of marketable production provided by the producer organisation for the purposes of recognition.

1.   The financial contributions to the operational fund referred to in Article 32(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be determined by the producer organisation or association of producer organisations.

2.   All producer members or member organisations shall have the opportunity to benefit from the operational fund and to participate democratically in decisions concerning the use of the operational fund of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations and of the financial contributions to the operational fund.

3.   The statutes of a producer organisation or rules of association of an association of producer organisations shall require its producer members or member organisations to pay the financial contributions in accordance with its statutes or rules of association for the establishment and replenishment of the operational fund provided for in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

1.   Producer organisations and associations of producer organisations shall notify the Member State, which has granted the recognition, of the estimated amounts of Union financial assistance and of the contribution, of its members and of the producer organisation or association itself, to the operational funds for the following year, by 15 September at the latest, together with the operational programmes or any request for approval of amendments to an existing operational programme.

However, Member States may set a later date than 15 September.

2.   The calculation of the estimated amount of operational funds shall be based on the operational programmes and the value of marketed production. The calculation shall be split between expenditure for crisis prevention and management measures and other measures.

1.   The national strategy referred to in Article 36(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, including the national framework referred to in Article 36(1) of that Regulation shall be established prior to the annual submission of the draft operational programmes. The national framework shall be integrated into the national strategy after having been submitted to the Commission and, where applicable, after having been amended in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 36(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

The national strategy may be subdivided into regional elements.

2.   In addition to the elements referred to in Article 36(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the national strategy shall integrate all the decisions taken and provisions adopted by the Member State for the purposes of Articles 152 to 165 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

3.   An analysis of the initial situation shall form part of the process of drawing up the national strategy and be carried out under responsibility of the Member State.

It shall identify and assess the priority needs, the objectives, the results expected and the quantified targets against the initial situation.

It shall also lay down the instruments and actions to attain those objectives.

4.   Member States shall monitor and evaluate the national strategy and its implementation through operational programmes.

The national strategy may be amended prior to the annual submission of the draft operational programmes.

5.   Member States shall set out in the national strategy the maximum percentages of the operational fund which may be spent on any individual measure or type of action in order to ensure a balance between different measures.

1.   Where support under the Member State's rural development programme or programmes has been granted to operations which are identical to actions that would be potentially eligible under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, that Member State shall ensure that a beneficiary may receive support for a given action only under one scheme.

Where a Member State includes such operations in its rural development programme or programmes, it shall ensure that the national strategy indicates the safeguards, provisions and checks put in place to avoid double funding of the same action or operation.

2.   Producer organisations which have been granted the support provided for in Article 27 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 or Article 19 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 702/2014 (9) shall not implement an operational programme in the same period.

3.   Where applicable, and without prejudice to Article 34(1) and (3) and Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the level of support for measures covered by that Regulation shall not exceed the level applicable for the measures under the rural development programme.

4.   Support for environmental actions that are identical to agri-environment-climate or organic farming commitments as referred to in Articles 28 and 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 respectively, shall be limited to the maximum amounts laid down in Annex II to that Regulation for agri-environment-climate payments or for organic farming payments. Those amounts may be increased in duly substantiated cases taking account of specific circumstances to be justified in the national strategy and in the operational programmes of the producer organisations.

5.   Paragraph 4 shall not apply to environmental actions which do not relate directly or indirectly to a particular parcel.

6.   Where producer organisations, associations of producer organisations or interbranch organisations benefit from promotion programmes approved under Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10), Member States shall ensure that a beneficiary may receive support for a given action only under one scheme.

1.   Operational programmes shall not include actions or expenditure listed in Annex II. A non-exhaustive list of eligible actions is set out in Annex III.

2.   Expenditure under operational programmes eligible for aid shall be restricted to the actual costs incurred. However, Member States may fix standard flat rates or scales of unit costs in the following cases:

In addition, Member States may decide to use differentiated scales of unit costs to take into account regional or local specificities.

Member States shall review the standard flat rates or scales of unit costs at least every five years.

3.   Member States shall ensure that the relevant calculations are adequate and accurate and established in advance on the basis of a fair, equitable and verifiable calculation. To that end Member States shall:

4.   In order for an action to be eligible, products for which the producer organisation is recognised shall account for more than 50 % of the value of the products covered by that action. In addition, the products concerned shall come from the producer organisation's members or producer members of another producer organisation or association of producer organisations. Articles 22 and 23 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the calculation of the value.

5.   Investments in physical assets shall entail the following commitments:

However, for the purposes of point (b) of the first subparagraph, Member States may provide that a period different to that of the fiscal depreciation period shall apply. Such period shall be indicated and duly justified in their national strategy and cover at least the period referred to in Article 71(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (11).

6.   Investments, including those under leasing contracts, may be financed through the operational fund in one amount or in identical instalments as approved in the operational programme. Member States may approve amendments to the operational programme providing for a new distribution of the instalments in duly justified cases.

If the fiscal depreciation period of an investment exceeds the length of the operational programme, it may be carried over to a subsequent operational programme.

Where investments are replaced, the residual value of the investments replaced shall be:

If the investment is sold before the end of the period referred to in paragraph 5 but it is not replaced, the Union aid paid to finance the investment shall be recovered and reimbursed to the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in proportion to the number of full years that remain until the end of the depreciation period referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5.

7.   Actions, including investments, may be implemented on individual holdings or premises of producer members of the producer organisation, association of producer organisations or their subsidiaries complying with the 90 % requirement as referred to in Article 22(8), including where the actions are outsourced to members of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations, provided that they contribute to the objectives of the operational programme.

If the producer member leaves the producer organisation, Member States shall ensure that the investment or its residual value is recovered by the producer organisation and in the latter case, added to the operational fund.

However, in duly justified circumstances, Member States may provide that the producer organisation shall not be required to recover the investment or its residual value.

8.   Actions, including investments, related to the transformation of fruit and vegetables into processed fruit and vegetables may be eligible for support where such actions and investments pursue the objectives set out in Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, including those referred to in Article 160 of that Regulation, and provided that they are identified in the national strategy referred to in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

9.   Investments in intangible assets may be eligible for support where such investments pursue the objectives set out in Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, including those referred to in Article 160 of that Regulation, and provided that they are identified in the national strategy referred to in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

1.   Member States may authorise that producer members of associations of producer organisations which are not producer organisations, but which are members of such associations pursuant to Article 20, finance the measures implemented by the association of producer organisations in proportion to the contribution of member producer organisations.

2.   Articles 30, 31, 33 and 34 of this Regulation and Articles 4 to 7 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892 shall apply mutatis mutandis to operational programmes of associations of producer organisations. However, a balance between the activities referred to in Article 4(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892 shall not be required in respect of partial operational programmes of associations of producer organisations.

3.   The ceiling for the crisis management and prevention expenditure, referred to in the fourth subparagraph of Article 33(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, under the operational programmes of associations of producer organisations shall be calculated at the level of each member producer organisation.

1.   Member States shall:

2.   Member States shall take decisions on operational programmes and operational funds by 15 December of the year in which they are submitted.

Member States shall notify the producer organisations of those decisions by 15 December.

However, for duly justified reasons, such decisions may be taken after that date, but no later than 20 January following the date of submission. The approval decision may provide that expenditure is eligible from 1 January of the year following the submission.

1.   Producer organisations may request amendments to operational programmes, including their duration, for subsequent years. Member States shall set deadlines for the submission and approval of such requests so that the approved amendments apply as from 1 January of the following year.

For duly justified reasons, such requests may be approved after the deadlines set by Member States, but no later than 20 January following the year of the request. The approval decision may provide that expenditure is eligible from 1 January following the year of the request.

2.   Member States may authorise amendments to operational programmes during the year, under conditions to be determined by them. The decisions on those amendments shall be taken by 20 January of the year following the year on which amendments are requested.

Producer organisations may be authorised by Member States, during the year to:

Member States shall determine the conditions under which operational programmes may be amended during the year without prior approval by the competent authority of the Member State. Those amendments shall only be eligible for aid if they are notified by the producer organisation to the competent authority without delay.

Member States may modify the percentages referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph in case of mergers of producer organisations as referred to in Article 15(1).

3.   Requests for amendments shall be accompanied by supporting documents giving the reason, nature and implications of the changes.

1.   Member States may permit producer organisations to apply for an advance payment of a part of the aid. That advance payment shall correspond to the forecast expenditure resulting from the operational programme during the three or four-month period starting in the month in which the application for an advance payment is submitted.

Member States shall provide for conditions to ensure that financial contributions to the operational fund have been levied in accordance with Articles 24 and 25 and previous advance payments and the corresponding producer organisation contribution have actually been spent.

2.   Applications for the release of securities may be submitted during the current programme year and shall be accompanied by supporting documents, such as invoices and documents proving that payment has been made.

Securities shall be released in respect of up to 80 % of advances paid.

3.   In the event of failure to comply with the operational programmes or of serious failure to meet the obligations provided for in Article 5(b) and (c) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892 the security shall be forfeited, without prejudice to other administrative penalties to be applied in accordance with Section 3 of Chapter V of this Title.

In the event of failure to comply with other requirements, the security shall be forfeited in proportion to the gravity of the irregularity that has been established.

1.   If a producer organisation or association of producer organisations ceases to implement its operational programme before the end of its scheduled duration, no further payments shall be made to that organisation or association for actions implemented after the date of cessation.

2.   Aid received for eligible actions carried out before the cessation of the operational programme shall not be recovered, provided that:

3.   Union financial assistance for multiannual commitments, such as environmental actions, where their long term objectives and expected benefits cannot be realised because of the interruption of the measure shall be recovered and reimbursed to the EAGF.

4.   This Article shall apply mutatis mutandis in case of voluntary discontinuity of recognition, withdrawal of recognition or dissolution of the producer organisation or association of producer organisations.

5.   Unduly paid aid shall be recovered in accordance with Article 67.

1.   Member States shall include in their national strategy the list of eligible investments aimed at making the management of volumes placed on the market more efficient as referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 33(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

2.   Before approving the operational programmes containing actions relating to the investments referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall require justification that the proposed investment is suitable to effectively prevent or better withstand a crisis.

1.   Member States shall adopt detailed provisions concerning support for the administrative cost of setting up mutual funds as referred to in point (d) of the first subparagraph of Article 33(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

2.   The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall comprise both the Union financial assistance and the contribution from the producer organisation. The total amount of that support shall not exceed 5 %, 4 % and 2 % respectively of the contribution of the producer organisation to the mutual fund in the first, second and third year of its operation:

3.   A producer organisation may receive the support referred to in paragraph 1 only once and only within the three first years of the operation of the fund. Where a producer organisation only asks for support in the second or the third year of operation of the fund, the support shall be 4 % and 2 % respectively.

4.   Member States may fix ceilings for the amounts that may be received by a producer organisation as support for the administrative cost of setting up mutual funds.

1.   Where Member States include in their national strategy the replanting of orchards, following mandatory grubbing-up for health or phytosanitary reasons as referred to in point (e) of the first subparagraph of Article 33(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the measures taken shall comply with Council Directive 2000/29/EC (12).

2.   Replanting of orchards shall not cover more than 20 % of the total expenditure under operational programmes. Member States may decide to set a lower percentage.

1.   The limit of 5 % of the volume of marketed production referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be calculated on the basis of an arithmetic mean of the overall volumes of products for which the producer organisation is recognised and which are marketed through the producer organisation during the three previous years.

2.   For newly recognised producer organisations, the data for marketing years prior to recognition shall be:

1.   Producer organisations and associations of producer organisations shall notify the competent authorities of the Member States in writing or by electronic means in advance of an intention to withdraw products.

Such notification shall specify, in particular, the list of products to be withdrawn and their principal characteristics according to the relevant marketing standards, the estimated quantity of each product concerned, their intended destination and the place where the withdrawn products may be inspected as provided for in Article 29 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

Notifications shall include a written statement attesting that the products to be withdrawn conform to the applicable marketing standards or minimum requirements referred to in Article 15 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

2.   Member States shall lay down detailed rules for producer organisations and associations of producer organisations as regards notifications provided for in paragraph 1, in particular as regards time limits.

1.   The support for market withdrawals, comprising both the Union financial assistance and the producer organisation contribution, shall be no more than the amounts set out in Annex IV.

For products not included in Annex IV, Member States shall set maximum amounts of support, comprising both the Union financial assistance and the producer organisation contribution, at a level not exceeding 40 % of the average market prices for the previous five years in case of free distribution and at a level not exceeding 30 % of the average of market prices for the previous five years for destinations other than free distribution.

Where the producer organisation has received compensation from third parties for withdrawn products, the support referred to in the first subparagraph shall be reduced by an amount equivalent to the compensation received. In order to be eligible for support, the products concerned shall not enter again the commercial market for fruit and vegetables.

2.   Market withdrawals shall not exceed 5 % of the volume of the marketed production of any given product of any given producer organisation. However, amounts which are disposed of in one of the ways referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 or any other way approved by Member States under Article 46(2) of this Regulation shall not be taken into account in that proportion.

The volume of marketed production referred to in the first subparagraph shall be the average of the volume of marketed production in the previous three years. If this information is not available, the volume of marketed production for which the producer organisation was recognised shall be used.

The percentage referred to in the first subparagraph shall be annual averages of a three year period including the year in question and the previous two years, with five percentage points of annual margin of overrun.

3.   The Union financial assistance in case of market withdrawals of fruit and vegetables which are disposed of by way of free distribution to the charitable organisations and institutions referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall only cover payment for the disposed products in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article and the costs referred to in Articles 16(1) and 17(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

1.   Member States shall lay down the permissible destinations for products withdrawn from the market. They shall adopt provisions to ensure that no negative impact on the environment nor any negative phytosanitary consequences result from the withdrawal or its destination.

2.   The destinations referred to in paragraph 1 shall include free distribution within the meaning of Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and any other equivalent destinations approved by Member States.

Upon request, Member States may authorise the charitable organisations and institutions referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 to ask for a contribution from the final recipients of products withdrawn from the market.

When the charitable organisations and institutions concerned have obtained the authorisation, they shall, in addition to the obligations under Article 47(1) of this Regulation, keep financial accounts for the operation in question.

Payment in kind by the beneficiaries of free distribution to processors of fruit and vegetables may be allowed, where such payment only compensates for processing costs and where the Member State in which the payment takes place has provided for rules ensuring that processed products are intended for consumption by the final recipients referred to in the second subparagraph.

Member States shall take all the necessary steps to facilitate contacts and cooperation between producer organisations and the charitable organisations and institutions referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 they have approved.

3.   Disposal of products to the processing industry shall be possible. Member States shall adopt detailed provisions to ensure that no distortion of competition occurs for the industries concerned within the Union or for imported products and that products withdrawn do not enter the commercial market again. The alcohol resulting from distillation shall be used exclusively for industrial or energy purposes.

1.   The recipients of withdrawn products referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall undertake to:

Member States may decide that recipients do not have to keep records as referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph, if they receive quantities below a maximum to be determined by them based on a documented risk analysis.

2.   The recipients of withdrawn products for other destinations shall undertake to:

1.   Green harvesting and non-harvesting as referred to in point (g) of the first subparagraph of Article 33(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be additional to and different from normal cultivation practices.

2.   Fruit and vegetable plants having undergone green harvesting or non-harvesting shall not be used for further production purposes in the same growing season after the operation has taken place.

3.   Green harvesting measures shall not be undertaken in respect of fruit and vegetables of which the normal harvest has already begun, and non-harvesting measures shall not be undertaken where commercial production has been taken from the area concerned during the normal production cycle.

The first subparagraph shall not apply where fruit and vegetable plants have a harvesting period exceeding one month. In such cases, the amounts referred to in paragraph 4 shall only compensate for the production to be harvested in the six weeks following the green harvesting and non-harvesting operation. Those fruit and vegetable plants shall not be used for further production purposes in the same growing season after the operation has taken place.

For the purposes of the second subparagraph, Member States may prohibit the application of green harvesting and non-harvesting measures if, in the case of green harvesting, a significant part of the normal harvest has been carried out and, in the case of non-harvesting, a significant part of the commercial production has already been taken. A Member State intending to apply this provision shall lay down in its national strategy the part it deems to be significant.

Green harvesting and non-harvesting shall not be applied for the same product and the same given area in any given year, except for the purposes of the second subparagraph where both operations may be applied simultaneously.

4.   Support for green harvesting shall only cover the products which are physically on the fields and which are actually green harvested. Compensation amounts, comprising both the Union financial assistance and the producer organisation contribution for green harvesting and non-harvesting shall be per hectare payments set by the Member State under point (a) of the first paragraph of Article 49 at a level to cover not more than 90 % of the maximum support level for market withdrawals applicable to withdrawals for destinations other than free distribution as referred to in Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

5.   Producer organisations and associations of producer organisations shall notify the competent authorities of the Member State in writing or by electronic means in advance of an intention of green harvesting or non-harvesting.

1.   Member States shall adopt detailed provisions on the implementation of harvest insurance actions, including provisions necessary to ensure that harvest insurance actions do not distort competition in the insurance market.

2.   Member States may grant additional national financing to support harvest insurance actions which are benefiting from the operational fund. However, total public support for harvest insurance shall not exceed:

The limit set out in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall apply even in cases where the operational fund is otherwise eligible for 60 % Union financial assistance pursuant to Article 34(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

3.   Harvest insurance actions shall not cover insurance payments which compensate producers for more than 100 % of the income loss suffered, taking into account any compensation the producers obtain from other support schemes related to the insured risk.

1.   Member States shall notify the Commission, by 12.00 hours (Brussels time) each Wednesday of the weighted average recorded prices for fruit and vegetables listed in Annex VI during the previous week, where data are available.

For fruit and vegetables covered by the general marketing standard set out in Part A of Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011, only prices of products meeting that standard shall be notified, whereas prices for products covered by a specific marketing standard set out in Part B of that Annex shall only concern products of class I.

Member States shall notify a single weighted average price corresponding to the types and varieties of products, sizes and presentations specified in Annex VI to this Regulation. Where recorded prices concern other types, varieties, sizes or presentations than those specified in that Annex, Member States shall notify the Commission of the types, varieties, sizes and presentations of the products to which prices correspond.

Notified prices shall be ex-packaging station, sorted, packaged and, where applicable, on pallets, expressed in euro per 100 kilograms net weight.

2.   Member States shall identify representative markets in the production area of the fruit and vegetables concerned. Member States shall notify the Commission of the representative markets and their weight in the average with the first notification or when they modify them. Member States may notify other prices on a voluntary basis.

1.   The operational programmes and the national strategies shall be subject to monitoring and evaluation aimed at assessing the progress made towards achieving the objectives set for operational programmes, as well as the efficiency and the effectiveness in relation to those objectives.

2.   Progress, efficiency and effectiveness shall be assessed by means of common performance indicators, as set out in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892, relating to the baseline situation as well as to the inputs (financial execution), outputs, results and impact of the operational programmes implemented.

3.   Member States may specify additional indicators in their national strategy.

1.   Producer organisations and associations of producer organisations shall establish a system to collect, record and maintain information for the compilation of the applicable indicators for the monitoring and evaluation of the operational programmes.

2.   The monitoring exercise shall be carried out in such a way that its results:

3.   Evaluation shall take the form of a report in the last but one year of the implementation of the operational programme as referred in Article 21(4) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

The evaluation exercise shall examine the progress made in relation to the overall objectives of the programme. Common performance indicators relating to the baseline situation, output and results shall be used for this purpose.

Where applicable, the evaluation exercise shall include a qualitative assessment of the results and the impact of the environmental actions aimed at:

The results of the exercise shall be used to:

The evaluation report shall be attached to the corresponding annual report referred to in Article 21(2) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

1.   Member States shall establish a system to collect, record and maintain information in electronic form adequate for the purpose of compiling the indicators referred to in Article 56. To this end, they shall use the information transmitted by the producer organisations and associations of producer organisations in relation to the monitoring and the evaluation of their operational programmes.

2.   Monitoring shall be ongoing in order to assess the progress made towards achieving the objectives of the operational programmes. For this purpose, use shall be made of the information provided in the annual reports transmitted by the producer organisations and associations of producer organisations. The monitoring exercise shall be carried out in such a way that its results:

3.   Evaluation shall be aimed at assessing the progress made towards the overall objectives of the strategy. For this purpose, use shall be made of the results of the monitoring and evaluation of the operational programmes as indicated in the annual and last but one annual reports transmitted by the producer organisations. The results of the evaluation exercise shall be used to:

The evaluation shall include an evaluation exercise carried out in 2020. Its results shall be part of the same year annual national report referred to in Article 54(b). The report shall examine the degree of utilisation of financial resources, the efficiency and effectiveness of the operational programmes implemented, and assess the effects and impact of those programmes, in relation to the objectives, targets and measures set by the strategy and, where applicable, other objectives set in Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

1.   If a Member State has established that a producer organisation fails to respect one of the recognition criteria linked to the requirements of Articles 5 and 7, Article 11(1) and (2) and Article 17, it shall send to the producer organisation in question no later than two months after the failure has been identified, by registered delivery, a warning letter stating the failure identified, the corrective measures required and the time periods within which these measures have to be taken, which shall not exceed four months. As from the moment a failure is established, Member States shall suspend payments of aid until the corrective measures are taken to their satisfaction.

2.   A failure to take the corrective measures referred to in paragraph 1 within the time period fixed by the Member State shall lead to the suspension of the recognition of the producer organisation. The Member State shall notify the producer organisation of the period of suspension, which shall start immediately after the expiry of the time period fixed for taking those corrective measures and shall not exceed 12 months from the date of the receipt of the warning letter by the producer organisation. This is without prejudice to the application of horizontal national legislation which may provide for the suspension of such an action following the commencement of connected legal proceedings.

During the suspension of the recognition, the producer organisation may continue its activity, but aid payments shall be withheld until the suspension of the recognition is lifted. The yearly aid amount shall be reduced by 2 % for each calendar month or part thereof during which recognition is suspended.

The suspension shall end on the day of the check which confirms that the recognition criteria in question have been fulfilled.

3.   If the criteria are not fulfilled by the end of the period of suspension set by the competent authority of the Member State, the Member State shall withdraw the recognition with effect from the date from which the conditions for recognition were not fulfilled, or, if it is not possible to identify that date, from the date when the failure was established. This is without prejudice to the application of horizontal national legislation which may provide for the suspension of recognition following the commencement of connected legal proceedings. Outstanding aid concerning the period during which the failure has been identified shall not be paid and unduly paid aid shall be recovered.

4.   If a Member State has established that a producer organisation fails to respect any of the recognition criteria laid down in Article 154 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 other than those mentioned in paragraph 1, it shall send to the producer organisation in question, no later than two months after the failure has been established, by registered delivery, a warning letter stating the failure identified, the corrective measures required and the time periods within which these measures have to be taken, which shall not exceed four months.

5.   A failure to take the corrective measures referred to in paragraph 4 within the time period fixed by the Member State shall lead to a suspension of payments and a reduction of the yearly aid amount by 1 % for each calendar month, or part thereof, following the expiry of that time period. This is without prejudice to the application of horizontal national legislation which may provide for the suspension of such an action following the commencement of connected legal proceedings.

6.   Member States shall withdraw recognition if the producer organisation does not prove compliance with the minimum volume or value of marketed production criteria as required by Article 154(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 by 15 October of the second year following the year in which those criteria were not complied with. Withdrawal shall take effect from the date from which the conditions for recognition were not fulfilled, or, if it is not possible to identify that date, from the date when the failure was established. Outstanding aid concerning the period during which the failure has been identified shall not be paid and unduly paid aid shall be recovered.

However, when a producer organisation delivers to the Member State proof that due to natural disasters, adverse climatic events, diseases or pest infestations, despite having undertaken the risk prevention measures it is not able to respect the recognition criteria laid down in Article 154(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 in respect of the minimum volume or value of marketable production laid down by Member States, the Member State may, for the year in question, derogate from the minimum volume or value of marketable production for this producer organisation.

7.   In cases where paragraphs 1, 2, 4 and 5 apply, Member States may make payments after the deadline set out in Article 10 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892. However, these payments shall not be made later than 15 October of the second year following the year of implementation of the programme.

8.   Paragraphs 1 to 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis in cases of failure by a producer organisation to provide the Member State with the information required under Article 21 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892.

1.   Member States shall suspend payments to and the recognition of a producer organisation or an association of producer organisations, which are under investigation by a national authority in connection with a charge of fraud in respect of aid covered by Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, until the charge has been determined.

2.   Where a producer organisation or an association of producer organisations has committed fraud in respect of aid covered by Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Member States shall, without prejudice to any other penalties applicable under Union and national legislation:

1.   Payments shall be calculated on the basis of eligible actions.

2.   The Member State shall examine the aid application, and establish the amounts that are eligible for support. It shall establish the amount that:

3.   If the amount established pursuant to paragraph 2(a) exceeds the amount established pursuant to paragraph 2(b) by more than 3 %, a penalty shall be applied. The amount of the penalty shall be the difference between the amounts calculated pursuant to paragraph 2(a) and (b). However, no penalty shall be applied if the producer organisation is able to demonstrate that it is not responsible for the inclusion of the ineligible amount.

4.   Paragraphs 2 and 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to ineligible expenditure identified during on-the-spot or subsequent checks.

5.   If the value of marketed production is declared and checked before the application for aid, the declared and approved values shall be used when establishing the amounts pursuant to paragraph 2(a) and (b), respectively.

6.   Where at the end of the operational programme, the conditions referred to in Article 33(5)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 have not been complied with, the total amount of support for the last year of the operational programme shall be reduced in proportion to the amount of expenditure not incurred on environmental actions.

1.   If, following the check referred to in Article 29 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892, non-compliances are found with regard to the marketing standards or the minimum requirements referred to in Article 15 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892, exceeding the established tolerances, the producer organisation concerned shall be required to pay a penalty calculated according to the proportion of the withdrawn products not complying:

2.   The penalties referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply without prejudice to any penalty applied pursuant to Article 61.

1.   If the producer organisation has not fulfilled its obligations with regard to green harvesting, it shall pay by way of penalty the amount of the compensation relating to the areas for which the obligation has not been respected. A failure to fulfil obligations shall include cases where:

2.   If the producer organisation has not fulfilled its obligations with regard to non-harvesting, it shall pay, by way of penalty, the amount of the compensation relating to the areas for which the obligation has not been respected. A failure to fulfil obligations shall include cases where:

Point (b) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall not apply where the second subparagraph of Article 48(3) applies.

3.   The penalties referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply in addition to any penalty imposed pursuant to Article 61.

1.   Producer organisations and associations of producer organisations or other operators concerned shall reimburse unduly paid aid with interest and pay the penalties provided for in this Section.

The interest shall be calculated:

2.   Aid recovered, interest and penalties imposed shall be paid to the EAGF.