Olive oil: extension of the period of validity of aid scheme and quality strategy

PURPOSE: to present a Commission proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation 136/66/EEC and 1638/98/EEC as regards the extension of the period of validity of the aid scheme and the quality strategy for olive oil. CONTENT: In July 1998, Council Regulation 1638/98/EEC amending Regulation 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common market organisation in oil and fats, introduced measures applicable for three marketing years, namely 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/01. However, in order to obtain all the results of the measures implemented from the 1998/99 marketing year onwards and to permit more detailed information to be gathered on the sector and more detailed analyses to be carried out, it is necessary to extend until the end of the 2002/2003 marketing year the period of validity of the provisions currently in force, in particular those laid down in Regulation 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats. Other provisions contained in the proposed Regulation include the following: 1) where appropriate and whatever form the future aid schemes takes, it will, from 01.11.2003, cover only olive trees included in a geographic information system (GIS) verified as being complete; 2) under the common organisation of the market in oils and fats, in force as from 01.11.2003, Member States producing olive oil may withold within certain limited fixed by the Commission a portion of aid, where appropriate intended for olive oil producers, to ensure Community finance of work programmes drawn up by approved operators' organisations and their associations in a number of areas; 3) within the fixed limits, the maximum Community funding for the work programmes shall be equal to the part of the aids reserved by the Member States. This funding shall be of maximum 100% for the eligible cost of the programmes in the olive oil sector and market management, 75% for the programmes on the improvement of product quality and environmental impacts and finally, 50% for the programmes for the certification and protection of olive-oil quality; 4) complementary funding will be assured by the Member States, taking into account certain conditions; 5) the Commission shall specify the following: - conditions for the approval of operators organisations and their unions; - the types of activities under the programmes already referred to; - the procedures for the approval of programmes by the Member States; - the measures concerning the control and the sanctions; - any other detailed rules that might be necessary for the rapid implementation, from 01/11/2003, of the programmes concerned.�