Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material, amending Council Directives 98/56/EC, 2000/29/EC and 2008/90/EC, Regulations (EC) No 178/2002, (EC) No 882/2004 and (EC) No 396/2005, Directive 2009/128/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 and repealing Council Decisions 66/399/EEC, 76/894/EEC and 2009/470/EC

On 29 June 2011, the European Commission presented its proposal for a multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 which was amended on 6 July 2012. Taking into account the conclusions of the European Council of 7/8 February 2013, the Commission is proposing a maximum amount of €1,891,936 million for expenditure in relation to food and feed during the whole period 2014-2020. The objective of this Regulation is to modernise the financial provisions for this area.

The main current financial legal framework used for funding these areas is Council Decision 2009/470/EC for veterinary eradication programmes and veterinary emergency measures, Council Directive 2000/29/EC for plant health measures and Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council for funding measures regarding official controls. Further specific financial provisions exist in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin, in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, in Directive 2009/128/EC establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides as well as in numerous other Council Directives related to animal and plant health.

This piecemeal framework is not in line with some provisions of the Financial Regulation and is quite complex. It has evolved over time and it needs to be rationalised. This is an opportunity to replace the current financial provisions in multiple legal bases by one single, clear and modern financial framework which optimises the implementation and the functioning of financial management of expenditure in the field of food and feed. In particular, the financial management structures will be simplified on the basis of clear objectives and indicators. Funding rates will also be clearer and more simplified.

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)327: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:327:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2013)194: Executive summary of the impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2013:194:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2013)195: Impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2013:195:FIN

ESO: Background information: Smarter rules for safer food: Commission proposes landmark package to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-smarter-rules-for-safer-food-commission-proposes-landmark-package-to-modernise-simplify-and-strengthen-the-agri-food-chain-in-europe/

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