Hefty Funding for European Agricultural Product Promotion

24 Nov 2016 --- The European Commission has approved 60 new programs to promote agricultural products worth €94 million in a bid to alleviate market difficulties.

The programs cover a wide range of product categories, particularly those severely hit by recent market difficulties such as dairy products, meat products and fresh/processed fruit and vegetables. They will mostly be multi-annual promotional campaigns that highlight the advantages of EU products.

Copa Cogeca is pleased with the approval and tells FoodIngredientsFirst: “We welcome the fact that more focus is being put on EU promotion policy as it will help the EU diversify into new markets, enhance competitiveness, raise awareness of high quality European products,” a spokesperson says.

“Some projects from our member organizations were approved this time around but to ensure wider approval of our proposed projects and of the different agricultural sectors in the future, we call for support and advice from the EU Commission and the Consumer, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA) on how best to make applications for the projects.”

Industry body FoodDrinkEurope also welcomes the approval of 60 new programs, which was the result of the evaluation of the proposals submitted under the first call of the new promotion policy for EU agri-food products. 

It also strongly supported Commissioner Phil Hogan in organizing business delegation visits to facilitate European exports to third countries. Several members of FoodDrinkEurope joined the last trade mission which took place in Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia, with more planned for the future. 

“Thanks to the high institutional level, these visits are a unique opportunity for EU food and drink companies to develop contacts with local business representatives and authorities,” it says.

“FoodDrinkEurope looks forward to the successful implementation of the selected simple and multi-programs, some of which have been presented by FoodDrinkEurope members. The reformed EU promotion policy, with its expanded product coverage including processed products, is an important tool for the competitiveness of our sector.”

Out of the 60 selected programs, 24 target the internal market and 36 target third countries and regions including China, Middle East, North America, South-East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Australia.

Commissioner Hogan said: “Such programs are important for establishing new market opportunities, in particular on non-EU markets, and increasing consumption of promoted products inside and outside the EU.”