(1)

Article 17 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892 (2) lays down rules on the costs of sorting and packaging fruit and vegetables withdrawn from the market and intended for free distribution. Annex V thereof lays down flat-rate amounts for such costs. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 (3), which lays down rules on the support for such a market withdrawal, sets out a limit to the costs of sorting and packaging fruit and vegetables withdrawn from the market for free distribution, in order to avoid overcompensation. The experience of Member States and producer organisations relating to the implementation of withdrawals, shows that the amounts fixed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892 for sorting and packing costs for market withdrawals for free distribution in the fruit and vegetables sector should not be considered as lump sums, but rather as maximum amounts which should not be exceeded and that in order to avoid overcompensation, the costs of sorting and packaging should not be eligible if the free distribution of fruits and vegetables takes place after processing.

(2)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/892 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(3)

For reasons of equal treatment of producer organisations withdrawing from the market fruits and vegetables for free distribution during the production year 2022, the new calculation method should cover the entire harvesting period. As harvest of peaches and nectarines starts from April each year, this Regulation should therefore apply from 1 April 2022.

(4)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,