The Fruit Industry Association of Catalonia, Afrucat, reports that, on Thursday 9 October, the contracts were signed between FESBAL and the four juice processors Nufri, Indulleida, Zucasa and Zufrisa, while on 10 October, the FEGA validated the 6,700 tonnes of apples and pears, largely from Catalonia and Aragon, that are to be withdrawn.
This means that withdrawals can already start. According to Regulation no. 1031/2014, which is one of the aspects taken into account by FEGA when validating notifications from different regions, there is a limit for apples and pears (8.7 million kilos) fixed by the regulation and which cannot be exceeded.
To the 8.7 million kilos of Spanish apples and pears we must add the additional 3,000 tonnes granted per state for possible extensions, together with the withdrawals which companies can keep doing within their operating programmes, which could reach 14,000 tonnes.
Afrucat is committed to ensure that, if necessary, the set limit can be extended, as already foreseen by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Volume and schedule
The maximum aid granted for market withdrawals remains the same.
For free distribution, this is € 0.2385/kg for pears and € 0.1698/kg for apples.
The implementation schedule will last until the volumes set for each Member state run out or until 31 December 2014, whichever occurs earlier.