1.Community quality schemes referred to in Article 32(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 shall be those established under the following Regulations and provisions:
(a)Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91(1);
(b)Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006(2);
(c)Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006(3);
(d)Title VI of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999(4).
2.To be eligible for support, food quality schemes recognised by the Member States, as referred to in Article 32(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, shall comply with the following criteria:
(a)the specificity of the final product under such schemes shall be derived from detailed obligations on farming methods that guarantee:
(a)specific characteristics including the production process, or
a quality of the final product that goes significantly beyond the commercial commodity standards as regards public, animal or plant health, animal welfare or environmental protection;
(b)the schemes involve binding product specifications and compliance with those specifications shall be verified by an independent inspection body;
(c)the schemes shall be open to all producers;
(d)the schemes shall be transparent and assure complete traceability of the products;
(e)the schemes shall respond to current and foreseeable market opportunities.
3.Support may be granted to farmers participating in a food quality scheme only if the quality product or foodstuff has been officially recognised under the Regulations and provisions listed in paragraph 1, or in a food quality scheme recognised by a Member State as referred to in paragraph 2.
As regards the food quality schemes referred to in paragraph 1(b) and (c), support may only be granted in respect of products registered in a Community register.
4.Where a support for participation in a food quality scheme under Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 for a specific product is included in a rural development programme, the fixed costs resulting from the participation in that quality scheme shall not be taken into account in calculating the amount of support in the framework of an agri-environment measure to support organic farming for the same product.
5.For the purpose of Article 32(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, ‘fixed costs’ shall mean the costs incurred for entering a supported food quality scheme and the annual contribution for participating in that scheme, including, where necessary, expenditure on checks required to verify compliance with the specifications of the scheme.