AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY: INDUSTRY CRITICAL OF REGULATION ON PROMOTION OF PRODUCTS.

The CIAA believes the proposed regulation should clearly specify that this instrument applies to agricultural and agri-food products, as potential outlets for processed food are growing rapidly.The CIAA questions the real impact of a project provided with so modest a budget. The allocation of Euro 15 million, from which 6 million has been deducted for specific actions, compares poorly with the budgets earmarked by the Community's principal trading partners (the United States, Japan and Canada). The agri-food industry believes a significant increase in the budget is the only means of ensuring this trade policy instrument can reach its ambitious objective. However, the CIAA stresses that it would be unacceptable if the necessary funding for the correct running of this instrument were to be the cause of any prejudice to the budget allocated either to refunds or to internal EU measures on promotion.To ensure this instrument...