Aid shall be granted to farmers producing cotton falling within CN code 5201 00 under the conditions laid down in this Section (‘crop specific payment for cotton’).
1.The crop specific payment for cotton shall be granted per hectare of eligible area of cotton. In order to be eligible, the area shall be located on agricultural land authorised by the Member State for cotton production, sown under authorised varieties and actually harvested under normal growing conditions.
The crop specific payment for cotton shall be paid for cotton of sound and fair merchantable quality.
2.Member States shall authorise the land and the varieties referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article according to detailed rules and conditions adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 141(2).
1.The following national base areas are hereby established:
Bulgaria: 3 342 ha,
Greece: 250 000 ha,
Spain: 48 000 ha,
Portugal: 360 ha.
2.The following fixed yields in the reference period are hereby established:
Bulgaria: 1,2 tonne/ha,
Greece: 3,2 tonne/ha,
Spain: 3,5 tonne/ha,
Portugal: 2,2 tonne/ha.
3.The amount of the aid per eligible hectare shall be established by multiplying the yields established in paragraph 2 with the following reference amounts:
Bulgaria: EUR 671,33,
Greece: EUR 251,75,
Spain: EUR 400,00,
Portugal: EUR 252,73.
4.If the eligible area of cotton in a given Member State and in a given year exceeds the base area established in paragraph 1, the aid referred to in paragraph 3 for that Member State shall be reduced proportionately to the overrun of the base area.
5.Detailed rules for the implementation of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 141(2).
1.For the purpose of this Section, an ‘approved inter-branch organisation’ shall mean a legal entity made up of farmers producing cotton and at least one ginner, carrying out activities such as:
(a)helping to coordinate better the way cotton is placed on the market, particularly through research studies and market surveys;
(b)drawing up standard forms of contract compatible with Community rules;
(c)orienting production towards products that are better adapted to market needs and consumer demand, particularly in terms of quality and consumer protection;
(d)updating methods and means to improve product quality;
(e)developing marketing strategies to promote cotton via quality certification schemes.
2.The Member State where the ginners are established shall approve inter-branch organisations that satisfy criteria to be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 141(2).
1.Farmers shall be granted the crop specific payment for cotton per eligible hectare pursuant to Article 90.
2.Farmers who are members of an approved inter-branch organisation shall be granted the crop specific payment for cotton per eligible hectare within the base area laid down in Article 90(1), increased by an amount of EUR 2.