Common agricultural policy CAP, reform: dried fodder, common organisation of the market CMO, 2004-2005 to 2007-2008

PURPOSE : to repeal Regulation 603/95/EC and establish the organisation of the market in dried fodder for the marketing years 2004/05 to 2007/08. CONTENT : the main part of fodder production under the scheme established by Regulation 603/95 relies on the use of fossil fuel for dehydrating and, in some Member States, on the use of irrigation. Due to concerns about its effects on the environment, the scheme will be discontinued. In order to ensure a transition to the industry that scheme should be maintained until the 2007/08 marketing year. The two aid rates set by Regulation 603/95 are reduced to a single rate applicable to both dehydrated and sun-dried fodder and decreased by steps for the three last marketing years. Support in the dried fodder will be redistributed between growers and the processing industry. Direct support to growers will be integrated into the single farm payment, based on their historical deliveries to the industry. (Please refer to CNS/2003/0006). National ceilings will apply to take into account current National Guaranteed Quantities. During a transitional period of 4 years, a simplified single support scheme for the dehydrated and sun-dried fodder industry will apply with a degressive aid, starting from EUR 33/t in 2004/05. The respective National Guaranteed Quantities will be merged. The aid will be as follows: - EUR 33 per tonne for the 2004/05 marketing year, - EUR 24.75 per tonne for the 2005/06 marketing year, - EUR 16.50 per tonne for the 2006/07 marketing year, - EUR 8.25 per tonne for the 2007/08 marketing year. A maximum guaranteed quantity per marketing year of 4 855 900 tonnes of dehydrated and/or sun-dried fodder for which the aid is proposed.�