Council Regulation (EC) No. 1783/2003 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Particular amendments and addenda are hereby laid down to Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). New provisions are added as regards the conditions for support for investment. For instance, where investments are made in order to comply with newly introduced minimum standards relating to the environment, hygiene, and animal welfare, support may be granted in order to comply with the new standards. In such cases, a period of grace may be provided to farmers to meet these minimum standards where time is needed to solve specific problems involved in complying with such standards (art. 1). Further amendments regard, inter alia, investments undertaken by young farmers and the setting-up aid; support for agricultural methods designed to protect the environment, maintain the countryside (agri-environment) or improve animal welfare; support for agricultural production methods designed to improve the quality of agricultural products and for promotion of those products.