Fruit and Vegetable Producer Associations Ordinance.

The present Oridnance implements the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products of 22 October 2007 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1580/2007 laying down implementing rules of Council Regulations (EC) No. 2200/96, (EC) No. 2201/96 and (EC) No. 1182/2007 in the fruit and vegetable sector of 31 December 2007. Article 2 names AMA ( Agrarmarkt Austria ) as responsible for the execution of the present Ordinance. To be allowed to operate, fruits and vegetables producer associations must submit an application to the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Resources. The details of such an application are set out in article 3. Once authorized, they must submit a yearly report to the Minister on their activity. The following articles deal with minimum size of producers associations, minimum duration of membership, provisional acceptance of such associations, duty to report, Funds, change of operational programs, payments of allowances, final provisions. The Ordinance consisting of 18 articles deals with the following matters: sphere of application, competent authorities, recognition of producer associations, minimal size of producers associations, membership of non-producers, recognition of mergers of producer associations, operational programmes, direct marketing on behalf of producers, management of financial crisis, duty to register and final provisions.