Last week, in response to the Russian embargo, the Commission confirmed its intention to provide an additional €30 million of EU funding for CAP promotion programmes starting in 2015.

This is on top of the €60 million that has been already annually in the CAP budget.

Plans for promotion funding for dairy and all other agri food sectors are to be put forward to the Department of Agriculture by the end of September.

There is a deadline of February 2015 for a second tranche of funding.

For approved schemes the EU will provide 50% of the funding with the balance coming from Member State governments or producer organisations.

The Commission has stated that it will prioritise schemes for products that might otherwise have been exported to Russia.

New rules for promotion agreed earlier this year will enter into force in time for the 2016 budget year.

Please contact the ICOS Brussels office for further information on the scheme.