are constituted, and controlled in accordance with point (c) of Article 153(2), by producers in a specific sector listed in Article 1(2);

are formed on the initiative of the producers and which carry out at least one of the following activities:

1. (i)

   joint processing;

2. (ii)

   joint distribution, including by joint selling platforms or joint transportation;

3. (iii)

   joint packaging, labelling or promotion;

4. (iv)

   joint organising of quality control;

5. (v)

   joint use of equipment or storage facilities;

6. (vi)

   joint management of waste directly related to the production;

7. (vii)

   joint procurement of inputs;

8. (viii)

   any other joint service activities pursuing one of the objectives listed in point (c) of this paragraph;

pursue a specific aim which may include at least one of the following objectives:

1. (i)

   ensuring that production is planned and adjusted to demand, particularly in terms of quality and quantity;

2. (ii)

   concentration of supply and the placing on the market of the products produced by its members, including through direct marketing;

3. (iii)

   optimising production costs and returns on investments in response to environmental and animal welfare standards, and stabilising producer prices;

4. (iv)

   carrying out research and developing initiatives on sustainable production methods, innovative practices, economic competitiveness and market developments;

5. (v)

   promoting, and providing technical assistance for, the use of environmentally sound cultivation practices and production techniques, and sound animal welfare practices and techniques;

6. (vi)

   promoting, and providing technical assistance for, the use of production standards, improving product quality and developing products with a protected designation of origin, with a protected geographical indication or covered by a national quality label;

7. (vii)

   the management of by-products and of waste in particular to protect the quality of water, soil and landscape and preserving or encouraging biodiversity;

8. (viii)

   contributing to a sustainable use of natural resources and to climate change mitigation;

9. (ix)

   developing initiatives in the area of promotion and marketing;

10. (x)

    X1managing of the mutual funds referred to in operational programmes in the fruit and vegetables sector referred to in point (d) of Article 33(3) of this Regulation and under Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013;

11. (xi)

    providing the necessary technical assistance for the use of the futures markets and of insurance schemes.

provided that one or more of the activities referred to in point (b)(i) to (vii) of paragraph 1 is genuinely exercised F5...;

provided that the producer organisation concentrates supply and places the products of its members on the market, whether or not there is a transfer of ownership of agricultural products by the producers to the producer organisation;

whether or not the price negotiated is the same as regards the aggregate production of some or all of the members;

provided that the producers concerned are not members of any other producer organisation as regards the products covered by the activities referred to in the first subparagraph;

provided that the agricultural product is not covered by an obligation to deliver arising from the farmer's membership of a cooperative, which is not itself a member of the producer organisations concerned, in accordance with the conditions set out in the cooperative's statutes or the rules and decisions provided for in or derived from those statutes.