Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-III§312 |
European Union |
2017 |
Measures |
Intellectual property measures |
Agriculture |
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The following agreements with geographical indication (GI) coverage have been finalized or have entered into force since the last report:
(...)
In a similar vein, Protocol 3 attached to the Economic Partnership Agreement with Southern African Development Community (SACD) EPA States , signed on 10 June 2016 and provisionally applied since 10 October 2016, covers GI protection together with winemaking practices and certification requirements, but is applied only to South Africa and the EU for the time being. It includes detailed rules about the scope of protection, the relationship with trademarks and enforcement of GIs, as well as Annex I with a non-exhaustive list of more than 100 GIs from South Africa and more than 250 from the EU that are to be protected in both parties' jurisdictions and that third-country manufacturers will no longer be allowed to use for exports of their products to the EU and South Africa. On the other hand, the Economic Partnership Agreement concluded with the East African Community Partner States in October 2014 has only limited provisions in the field of GIs, recognizing their importance for sustainable agriculture and rural development. (...)
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§8 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
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Agriculture |
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Since 1 January 2015, active farmers have had access to the compulsory schemes provided by all member States (the basic payment or single area payment, the greening payment, and the young farmers' scheme) and, if the member State has so decided, the voluntary schemes (redistributive payment, support in areas with natural constraints, and coupled support). Member States also have the option of applying a small farmers' scheme, which is a simplified scheme that replaces all other direct payments and exempts eligible farmers from greening and cross-compliance controls. Apart from the small farmers' scheme, all direct payment programmes are subject to provisions to ensure compliance with basic standards relating to the environment, food safety, animal and plant health and animal welfare (cross-compliance).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§9 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Eighteen member States apply the Basic Payment Scheme , while all others apply the Single Area Payment Scheme. Each of the ten member States using the Single Area Payment Scheme provides a uniform payment per eligible hectare. Eligibility for the Basic Payment Scheme or the Single Area Payment Scheme is a precondition for the complementary payments under the decoupled income schemes (greening payment, the young farmers' scheme, payments for areas with natural constraints, the small farmers' scheme, and redistributive payments).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§10 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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For those member States that apply the Basic Payments Scheme, the entitlement to receive payments under the old single payment system expired at the end of 2014 and new entitlements were allocated in 2015. As a general rule, entitlements were allocated to those that applied for an allocation and:
• were active farmers in 2015 (that is those people and businesses: involved in producing, rearing, or growing agricultural produce; keeping land in a suitable state for grazing or cultivation; or doing the minimum necessary to land that is naturally kept suitable for grazing or cultivation); and
• had been entitled to direct payments in 2013.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§12 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Each member State was required to allocate 30% of the national ceiling for direct payments to agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment (Greening). To qualify for payments, three basic requirements must be met relating to crop diversification and maintenance of permanent grass land, and each holding over 15 ha must have at least 5% of the area designated as an "ecological focus area". To qualify as an ecological focus area, land use must meet a number of criteria which vary from one member State to another and include landscape features (e.g. trees in groups, field margins, trees in lines, ditches, and hedges), buffer strips, short rotation coppice, catch crops, or nitrogen-fixing crops.
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Climate
Environment
Green
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§13 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
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Agriculture |
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Exemptions to these criteria may apply, such as for farmers participating in the small farmers' scheme, farmers with a large proportion of grassland, and farmers that meet the requirements for organic production. [7]
[7] Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-Table-IV.6 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Table 4.6 Implementation of direct payments
(Of national ceiling for 2016 calendar year (unless stated otherwise))
(...)
Note: 30% of each national ceiling is reserved for greening, therefore, percentage allocations add up to 70% in all cases except Denmark, which is the only member State to allocate some of Pillar I to areas with natural constraints (0.4% of the national ceiling).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-Table-IV.8 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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Table 4.8 Temporary measures for dairy and livestock producers, 2014-16
Date Implementing/Delegated Regulation No. Description
2016/1613 €350 million in exceptional adjustment aid to milk producers and farmers in other livestock sectors to be spent by 30 September 2017 at the latest. National contributions of up to 100% allowed for the same measures. Measures taken by member States for producers engaged in: reducing production; small-scale farming; extensive production; environmental and climate friendly production; implementation of cooperative projects; implementation of quality or value-added schemes; and training in financial instruments and risk management.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§37 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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There are 118 rural development plans in the 28 member States, with 20 national programmes and eight member States with two or more regional programmes. Each plan sets targets for the priorities and at least 30% of funding must be for measures relating to the environment and climate change and 5% for the LEADER programme which provides grants for a variety of community-led programmes under the sixth priority on social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/357/REV.1 |
S-IV§38 |
European Union |
2017 |
Sectors |
Grants and direct payments |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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As noted in the previous review, some of the Pillar II programmes and measures are targeted at farmers and intended to improve efficiency (e.g. investments in physical assets), productivity in the sector (e.g. aid for young farmers) (under Priority 2), and risk reduction (e.g. aid for restoring production potential after damage by natural disasters, subsidies for insurance premiums, and income stabilization) (under Priority 3). According to the Commission, 44% of funds of all the rural development plans are for improving ecosystems, 20% for improving farm viability and competitiveness, and 10% for food chain organization, animal welfare and risk management (Table 4.12).
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