Promotion of EU agricultural products outside the EU

On the basis of Council Regulation n° (EC) 2702/1999 the EU can fund, in whole or in part, in so called "third countries" (ie non-EU countries) measures that provide information on, or promote, agricultural and food products. These measures can be public relations, promotional or publicity measures, in particular highlighting the advantages of Community products, especially in terms of quality, hygiene, food safety, nutrition, labelling, animal welfare or environment-friendliness. These measures can amongst others also cover participation at trade exhibitions, events and fairs, information campaigns on the Community system of protected designations of origin (PDO), protected geographical indications (PGI) and traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) and of organic farming. Information campaigns on the Community system of quality wines produced in specified regions (QWPSR) and studies of new markets are also amongst the possibilities.

Measures are part-financed up to 50% by the EU, the remainder being covered by the professional/interbrauch organisations proposing them and by the Member States concerned. The EU can finance certain specific measures (information on EU quality and labelling systems, high-level visits) at 100%.

Detailed rules for applying the promotion and information measures are laid down by Commission Regulation No 1346/2005 of 16 August. Not later than 31 March every year trade and interbranch organisations can submit programme proposals to the competent authorities of the Member States, which will send to the Commission the programmes they have selected by the 30 June. Subsequently the Commission examines the programmes and takes a decision as to their eligibility by 30 November at the latest. The annex to Commission Regulation 1346/2005 lists the third-country markets where promotion measures can currently be carried out and the products which can be covered by these promotion measures.

The annual total budget for programmes in third countries and on the internal market is about € 50 million.

Legal basis:

• NEW: Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 of 17 December 2007 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries
  
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• Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 of 14 December 1999 on measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries
  
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• Council Regulation (EC) No 2060/2004 of 22 November 2004 amending Regulations (EC) No 2702/1999 and (EC) No 2826/2000
  
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• Commission Regulation (EC) No 1346/2005 of 16 August 2005 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 on measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries
  
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Guidelines to be considered when assessing and managing part-financing programmes for promoting Community agricultural products:

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Application form:

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Model contract:

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Provisional timetable for measures:

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List of competent bodies in the Member States for administering Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999:

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Approved information and promotion programmes:

• Dec C (2006) 5987 (2006-MI-S1)  - pdf available in
• 2005/2  - pdf available in
• 2005/1  - pdf available in
• 2004/2  - pdf available in
• 2004/1  - pdf available in
• 2003/2  - pdf available in
• 2003/1  - pdf available in
• 2002  - pdf available in
• 2001  - pdf available in

Calls for proposals issued by Member States: Links

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Promotion of EU agricultural products outside the EU