Delegated regulation 2020/884 - Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/884 derogating in respect of the year 2020 from Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 as regards the fruit and vegetables sector and from Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1149 as regards the wine sector in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 205/1

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting extensive movement restrictions, exceptional difficulties have been encountered by all Member States and by farmers throughout the Union with planning and implementing aid schemes laid down in Articles 32 to 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 for the fruit and vegetables sectors, and in Articles 39 to 52 of that Regulation for the wine sector. Logistical problems and shortage of workforce have made those farmers vulnerable to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, they experience financial difficulties and cash-flow problems. The situation has resulted in disruption and disturbance of the functioning of the supply chain in those sectors.

In view of the unprecedented nature of those combined circumstances, it is necessary to alleviate those difficulties by derogating from certain provisions of Delegated Regulations applicable in the fruit and vegetables sector and in the wine sector.

Exceptional difficulties have been encountered in all Member States with the planning, management and implementation of operational programmes of recognised producer organisations and associations of producer organisations in the fruit and vegetables sector. This may have the consequence of delaying the implementation of these operational programmes and therefore producer organisations and associations of producer organisations may fail to conform to Union legal requirements, laid down for those operational programmes in particular in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 (3). Producer organisations are also vulnerable to the disruption and disturbance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are experiencing financial difficulties and cash-flow problems caused by a disruption of the supply chains, the closure of certain outlets in particular at the wholesale level and in the hospitality sector. They are experiencing logistical problems and difficulties in harvesting their produce due to a shortage of workforce and difficulties in reaching consumers due to disruption of the supply chain. This is having a direct impact on the financial stability of producer organisations and on their capacity to implement operational programmes not only in the year 2020 but also in the subsequent years, as the value of marketing production for the year 2020 impacts the calculation of the Union financial assistance for the subsequent years. This is further influencing the ability of producer organisations to introduce measures and actions targeting the effects of this crisis. In addition, the reduction of the value of marketed production caused by the COVID-19...