Aid for marketing measures
Article 45
1. Aid for marketing measures fulfilling the conditions laid down in Chapter I of this Regulation shall be compatible with the internal market within the meaning of Article 107(3), point (c), TFEU and shall be exempted from the notification requirement of Article 108(3) thereof provided that: (a) the aid promotes marketing measures for fishery and aquaculture products; and (b) the aid aims to: (i) create producer organisations, associations of producer organisations or inter-branch organisations to be recognised in accordance with Chapter II, Section II, of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; (ii) find new markets and improving the conditions for the placing on the market of fishery and aquaculture products, including: — species with marketing potential, — unwanted catches landed from commercial stocks in accordance with technical measures, Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 8(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; — fishery and aquaculture products obtained using methods with low impact on the environment, or organic aquaculture products within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2018/848; (iii) promote the quality and the value added by facilitating: — the application for registration of a given product and the adaptation of concerned operators to the relevant compliance and certification requirements in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 38 ) , — the certification and the promotion of sustainable fishery and aquaculture products, including products from small–scale coastal fishing, and of environmentally-friendly processing methods, — the direct marketing of fishery products by small-scale coastal fishermen, migratory fishers, inland fishermen, on–foot fishers or aquaculture producers, — the presentation and packaging of products; (iv) contribute to the transparency of production and the markets and conducting market surveys and studies on the Union’s dependence on imports; (v) contribute to the traceability of fishery or aquaculture products and, where relevant, the development of a Union–wide ecolabel for fishery and aquaculture products referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; (vi) draw up standard contracts for SMEs that are compatible with Union law; (vii) conduct regional, national or transnational communication and promotional campaigns to raise public awareness of sustainable fishery and aquaculture products. 2. The aid shall take the form of a subsidised service or direct grant. 3. The aid may only cover the following eligible costs: (a) direct salary costs (b) participation fees; (c) travel costs; (d) costs of publications; (e) purchased studies; (f) the rent of exhibition premises and stands and the costs of their installation and dismantling; or (g) costs for the dissemination of scientific knowledge and factual information on generic fishery products and their nutritional benefits and suggested uses for them. 4. The operations referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), may include the production, processing and marketing activities along the supply chain. The operations referred to in paragraph 1, point (b)(vii), shall not refer to any particular undertaking, brand name or origin. 5. The amount of the aid granted under this Article shall not exceed, in gross grant equivalent, a maximum aid intensity rate of 50 % of the eligible costs. Specific maximum aid intensity rates shall be as set out in Annex IV. Where one operation falls under several of the rows 1 to 11 of Annex IV, the highest maximum aid intensity rate shall apply.