EU spending on information about food and animal feed

The general objective of this European Union (EU) law is to contribute to the good health of humans, animals and plants along the food chain, offer a high level of protection for consumers and the environment, eradicating pests, while favouring competitiveness and the creation of jobs.

ACT

Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material, amending Council Directives 98/56/EC, 2000/29/EC and 2008/90/EC, Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 882/2004 and (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Decisions 66/399/EEC, 76/894/EEC and 2009/470/EC

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THE REGULATION DO?

It updates the framework under which animal and plant health and food production policies are financed.

KEY POINTS

The regulation seeks to oversee expenditure by the EU in the following areas:

• food and feed, including safety;
• animal health and welfare;
• organisms harmful to plants (pests);
• production of plant reproductive material, principally seeds;
• plant protection products and the sustainable use of pesticides;
• risks arising from animal by-products, used in animal food and fertilisers, such as meat and bone meal, feather meal and fish meal;
• genetically modified organisms deliberately released into the environment;
• intellectual property rights in relation to plant genetics.

The regulation sets out rules and deadlines for the content, submission, evaluation and approval of national programmes and payment requests. The European Commission (EC) is responsible for reviewing the effective implementation of measures benefitting from EU financial contributions. Appropriate publicity should be given in order to inform the public of the role of the EU in funding.

The regulation contains a set of rules clarifying maximum allowable budgets and maximum rates of grants, which will not normally exceed 50 % of the eligible costs. This rate may be increased to:

• 75 % of the eligible costs in respect of cross-border activities concerning two or more EU countries to control pests or animal diseases;
• 100 % of the eligible costs where the activities cause serious health risks for humans, animals and plants.

EU funding can be provided to deal with emergency situations related to animal and plant health. Diseases which qualify for funding under emergency measures are listed in the annex to the regulation. The EC can update the list to take account of new threats.

Exceptionally, the EU may cover costs incurred by EU countries in carrying out other urgent measures, for example enhanced biosecurity in case of disease outbreaks, severe pest problems, the disposal of carcasses and compensation payments arising from vaccination campaigns.

By 30 June 2017, the EC will submit a mid-term evaluation, accompanied, if appropriate, by proposals for legislation, and a further report on the effectiveness of the regulation by 30 June 2022.

WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

From 30 June 2014.

For more information, see Financial Framework Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 on the European Commission’s website.

last update 25.08.2015