RPA opens bids for ‘Enjoy, It’s from Europe’ cash
New opportunity for trade organisations to apply for funding towards promotion and information programmes for agricultural products
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has announced a new opportunity for trade organisations to apply for funding towards promotion and information programmes for EU agricultural products.
Producers of a wide range of products, including fruit and vegetables, meat and eggs, can apply for up to half the cost of marketing their goods abroad in a scheme designed to raise awareness and increase sales of EU food products.
The maximum rises to 60 per cent for the promotion of fruit and vegetables intended specifically for EU schools, and for information on responsible drinking patterns and harm linked to hazardous alcohol consumption.
The application process for the two schemes, one for internal markets (EU countries) and another for external markets (rest of the world), is combined.
Applicants may apply under either or both promotions schemes but cannot submit a combined application covering both schemes. Preparation of an application may start at any time of the year provided that the deadlines are respected and the next deadline is 28 February 2015. It is also essential to take into account any regulatory and other changes which may be introduced.
This will be the only opportunity to apply for EU co-financing of information and promotion programmes in 2015.
Applicants are expected to fund at least a 20 per cent of the total cost of the programme and can choose either to pay the remaining balance themselves or to finance it by industry levy.
Eligible products include:
Internal Market Promotions
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- Processed fruit and vegetables
- Fibre flax
- Live plants and products of ornamental horticulture
- Olive oil and table olives
- Seed oils
- Milk and milk products
- Fresh, chilled or frozen meat, produced in accordance with a Community or a national quality scheme.
- Marking of eggs for human consumption
- Honey and beekeeping products
- Wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, wines with an indication of the wine grape variety
- Graphic symbol for the outermost regions as laid down in agricultural legislation
- Products covered by the schemes for protected designations of origin (PDO), protected geographical indications (PGI), traditional specialties guaranteed (TSG) or optional quality terms in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p.1).
- Organic farming in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 and products registered according to that Regulation
- Sheep meat
Third Country Promotions
- Fresh, chilled and frozen beef, veal and pig meat; food preparations based on these products;
- Quality poultry meat;
- Milk products;
- Olive oil and table olives;
- Wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication, wines with an indication of the wine grape variety;
- Spirit drinks with a protected geographical indication;
- Fresh and processed fruit and vegetables;
- Products processed from cereals and rice;
- Fibre flax;
- Live plants and ornamental horticulture products;
- Products covered by the schemes for protected designations of origin (PDO), protected geographical indications (PGI), or traditional specialties guaranteed (TSG) in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council; and
- Organic farming products in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p.1)
- Sheep meat
All information and promotion material must bear the signature, “Enjoy! it’s from Europe”. The European Commission’s instructions for the use of the signature may be accessed via the link, http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/promotion/procedure/enjoy-instructions_en.htm.
Background
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The Rural Payments Agency’s work helps the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to encourage a thriving farming and food sector and strong rural communities. RPA makes Common Agricultural Policy support payments, traces livestock and carries out inspections. We manage more than 40 schemes, paying farmers and traders more than £2 billion each year. To administer such a wide range of schemes and meet EU requirements we manage information on more than two million land parcels.
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The EU part-finances information and promotion campaigns about its farm products, manufactured foodstuffs and production methods.
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Each application for funding in the next round must arrive at the Rural Payments Agency by 28 February 2015. Applications submitted after this date cannot be considered. Applications may be sent by email to trader@rpa.gsi.gov.uk. A first draft may be submitted up to one month ahead of this deadline so that any changes can be discussed and incorporated into the final copies if necessary.
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Applicants must use the European Commission’s standard application form, which can be obtained from the Rural Payments Agency pages of the (www.gov.uk) website. The full link is www.gov.uk/promotion-schemes-for-agricultural-products. They should be sent to Rural Payments Agency, Promotions Schemes, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE4 7YH.
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Defra and RPA will evaluate each application. Following the evaluation the Rural Payments Agency may request hard copies of the application.
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Full details are available from Steve Wood on 0191 226 5338 at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), or email: trader@rpa.gsi.gov.uk.
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For further details and guidance on Promotions schemes please refer to the Rural Payments Agency pages of the www.gov.uk website.