Wines referred to in Article 10(2) of Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 shall be eligible for promotion on third-country markets provided that:
the products are intended for direct consumption, export opportunities or potential new market outlets in the targeted third countries exist for them, and they display high added value;
the origin of the product is indicated as part of an information or promotion operation in the case of wine with a geographical indication;
the operation supported is clearly defined, including the specification of which products may be taken into account, the marketing operation and the estimated cost;
[F1The support for promotion and information lasts no longer than three years for a given beneficiary in a given third-country; however, if necessary, it may be renewed once, for a period no longer than two years;]
the information and/or promotion messages are based on the intrinsic qualities of the wine, and comply with the legislation applicable in the third countries at which they are targeted;
The beneficiaries must have enough capacity to face the specific constraints of trade with third countries and have resources to ensure that the measure is implemented as effectively as possible. Member States shall in particular check that enough products in terms of quality and quantity will be available to ensure answering the market demand in the long run after the promotion operation.
The beneficiaries may be private companies as well as professional organisations, producer organisations, inter-branch organisations or, where a Member State decides so, to public bodies. In any event, Member States shall not make a public body the sole beneficiary of the promotion measure.
Preference shall be given to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the meaning of Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC(1), and to collective brand names.
In order to prevent misuse of the scheme, the elements referred to in paragraphs (a) and (c) shall not in general be permitted to change within the duration of the supported actions unless evidence shows that such changes allow for a better accomplishment.
Textual Amendments
F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 772/2010 of 1 September 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 555/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 on the common organisation of the market in wine as regards support programmes, trade with third countries, production potential and on controls in the wine sector.