EC approves emergency aid to fruit and vegetables 125 million euros.

The measure, which comes into force with effect from the same Monday 18 August, affects tomatoes, carrots, white cabbage, Peppers, cauliflowers, cucumbers and pickles, arrows, apples, pear, red fruits, table grapes and kiwis.

It also includes market recalls especially for free distribution, compensating both harvested and unharvested productions. Financial aid will cover all producers, whether they are included in producer organizations or not.

As indicated by the CE, These measures are taken as a matter of urgency in the context of Russian restrictions on imports of agricultural products from the EU., and as a logical consequence of the agreements adopted at the Management Committee meeting last week.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, has stated that “taking into account the market situation after the Russian restrictions against EU imports of agricultural products, with today's effect (18/08/2014), These emergency measures are adopted that will help reduce the saturation of fruits and vegetables in the European market, avoiding price alterations in the coming months”

Ciolos added that “all farmers of the affected products – whether they are part of producer organizations or not – will be able to benefit from these market support measures.. The adoption of these measures as a matter of urgency will provide efficient support to the price paid to producers in the domestic market., helping the market adapt and be profitable”, said the commissioner.

The exceptional measures announced will include market withdrawals, especially for free distribution., compensating both harvested and unharvested productions.

The measures are retroactive from the 18 August. In other words, any volume withdrawn from today onwards (or subject to collection or other measures) will already be covered by these additional aid, that will be applied until the end of November with a planned budget of 125 million euros.

Next Friday there will be a meeting with experts from the Member States and the European Parliament, to address the expansion of aid to all products.

The EC will monitor the market situation relating to all sectors affected by the Russian import ban on agri-food products, being in permanent contact with the Member States, not hesitating to extend the announced measures if the export situation made it necessary.