The implementing acts to develop the new Regulation of the Parliament and Council 1144/2014 for the promotion of agricultural products in the internal market and in third countries are expected to be approved this September, so that the new regulation starts being applied from December 1 this year, as is set out in that regulation.
Following the approval of Regulation 1144/2014 in November 2014, its implementation requires the adoption of a delegated act and implementing acts. The delegated act was adopted by the European Commission on April 24, 2014. It includes aspects such as the conditions of proposing organizations and eligibility of programs, which can be single or multiple.
The implementing acts are in their proceeding period. The latest revision was performed on May 7, 2015 and expectations are they will be definitively adopted in this last quarter, a necessary step for the Promotion Regulation to come into force on December 1 as planned.
One of the implementing acts will develop Regulation 1144/2014, regarding the management and the characteristics of shares, including visibility of origin and brands. It will also regulate the implementation of simple programs, management of payments to applicants, and notifications from Member States, among other things.
The second implementing act will regulate the implementation of the annual work program provided for in Regulation 1144/2014, which contains the promotional goals for 2016 both in the Community market and in third countries; operational priorities, expected results, and the total amount of the financing plan and its distribution are among its main points. For 2016, the Commission's Regulation provides a budget of 81.3 million Euro, 67 million of which are for simple programs and 14.3 million Euro to multiple programs.
Regarding third countries, the Commission defined the priority markets and their budget allocation in the implementing act: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, United States, Canada, Latin America, Southeast Asia, East Asia and Africa, almost the same that the FEPEX has established as priorities for the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector.
The new regulation for the promotion of agricultural products, Regulation 1144/2014, will enter into force on 1 December and it includes major changes to the current legislation, the elimination of national co-financing, the inclusion of new processed food products, and the increase in proponents entities, among other things. The regulation shall apply to promotion projects presented starting December 1 this year.
Source: FEPEX