Ordinance N. 18 of 26 June 2008 on the terms and conditions for granting aid under measure "Value added to agricultural and forestry products" under Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013.

This Ordinance, based on the provisions of the Bulgarian Law on support to farmers, regulates the conditions and procedure for providing grant under measure "Adding value to agricultural and forest products "under the Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013 (RDP), also supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Development rural areas (EAFRD). Financial aid grant is provided for implementation of projects, which contribute to achieving the objectives as follows: 1. improvement of the overall activity, economic efficiency and the competitiveness of food processing enterprises and forest industry through: (a) better use of factors of production; (b) introduction of new products, processes and technologies; (c) improving the quality and safety of food and food traceability; 2. compliance with Community standards; 3. improving the protection of the environment. Projects that lead to the improvement of the overall system shall be supported by activities through: (a) deployment of new and/or upgrading of existing capacity; (b) introduction of new products, processes and technologies; (c) reduction of the cost of production; (d) compliance with Community standards; (e) improving cooperation with producers of raw materials; (f) protection of the environment (including reduction of harmful substances, emissions and waste); (g) increasing the production and use of energy by renewable energy sources; (h) improving the safety and hygiene of production; (i) improving the quality and safety of food and food traceability; (j) improving opportunities for organic food production by processing primary agricultural organic products; (k) improving the protection and welfare of animals.