Information and promotion campaigns for agricultural products on the internal market

The European Union has a comprehensive and coherent policy on providing information on EU farm products and foodstuffs. The Council aims to improve the information available for consumers to base their consumption choices on, expand existing markets and open up new ones, and to maintain or increase demand.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 of 19 December 2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

The Commission can help finance information and promotion campaigns for European agricultural products carried out in the European Union by trade or inter-trade organisations. Promotion must be generic and official and must not support a particular brand or specific origin except in the case of Community schemes and special logos provided for in Community rules.

The actions eligible for part-financing take the form of public relations work, participation in events, information about Community classifications of certain agricultural products, publicity or promotion at points of sale.

The Community contribution is 50% of the actual cost of the programmes, or 60% for promotion campaigns directed at children in educational establishments. The trade covers 20% of the cost and the remainder is the responsibility of the Member States. In the case of measures lasting for two or three years, the rate of the Community contribution declines from year to year and is between 60% and 40% of the annual cost of the measures. However, the Community finances in full studies to evaluate the results of promotion and information measures.

The campaigns are meant to draw attention to the quality, typical character, special production methods, nutritional and health qualities, food safety and animal welfare aspects or respect for the environment of the products concerned by means of thematic campaigns or campaigns aimed at a particular audience. They also provide information on the Community schemes for designating products, organic production methods, the system of labelling and the systems for tracing and checking products.

The European Commission draws up a list of the possible products and themes. The list is revised every two years. For each of the sectors or products selected the Commission establishes a strategy with guidelines to be followed for putting forward promotion and information programme proposals. It particularly encourages the promotion of fresh fruit and vegetables among children in educational establishments.

Following a competitive procedure, the trade or inter-trade organisations concerned select implementing bodies to undertake the proposed programmes, or decide to implement certain parts of them themselves. These programmes run for a maximum of three years. The Member State or States involved establish a set of selection and evaluation criteria. Programmes proposed by trade organisations straddling several Member States are given priority. The Member States inform the Commission about the selected programmes and it carries out a final compliance check.

The Commission is assisted in its task by the Joint Management Committee, the Standing Group on the Promotion of Agricultural Products of the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Product Health and Safety, and can also consult ad hoc technical working groups made up of members of the Management Committee.

RELATED ACTS

Proposal of 23 May 2007 for a Council Regulation on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries [COM(2007) 268 final].

It is proposed that this Regulation be repealed, along with Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999, in order to create a single legal framework for the promotion of agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries.

The current basis for the promotion of agricultural products in third countries is Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 and, for promotion in the Member States, Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000.

The aim of the proposed measure is to simplify the legislation and administrative procedures applying to the common agricultural policy.

Implementing measures

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1071/2005 of 1 July 2005 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market [Official Journal L 179, 11.7.2005].

Reporting

Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 on measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries and Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market [COM(2006) 855 final - not published in the Official Journal].

It is reported that 174 promotion programmes have been approved since 2004: 128 for the internal market and 46 for third countries, taking all products together. The Commission also finds that there has been a gradual decrease in the total funds allocated, from 60 million in 2004 and 2005 to 52 million in 2006 and 46 million in 2007.

The number of programmes for the internal market has fallen gradually - from 46 in 2004 to 31 in 2006 - as a result of more rigorous eligibility criteria being applied.

The sectors that have benefited most from the programmes are dairy products, fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, ornamental plants and shrubs, organic farming and quality meats.

Commission report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of Regulations(EC) No 2702/1999 and 2862/2000 [COM(2004) 233-1 - not published in the Official Journal]. Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 is no longer in force. The Commission concludes that the current arrangements for supporting information and promotion measures under the above regulations should be continued, but that technical and administrative adjustments should be made to improve their operation and simplify their management.

Last updated: 23.10.2007