COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 27 March 2014

as regards a Union financial contribution towards a coordinated control plan with a view to establishing the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods

(notified under document C(2014) 1912)

(2014/176/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (1), and in particular, Article 66 thereof,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Subject matter

1. The Union shall contribute to the costs incurred by the Member States for the application of the coordinated control plan referred to in Recommendation 2014/180/EU (hereinafter ‘楥ommission Recommendation‘�, with a total maximum amount of EUR 145 440.

2. The Union shall contribute to the costs incurred by the Centre Wallon de Recherches agronomiques (CRA-W), Gembloux, Belgium, for the calibration and coordination of the testing method for undeclared animal species in meat and meat products, with a total maximum amount of EUR 20 000.

3. The costs referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be financed from budgetary line 17.0403.

Article 2

Eligible costs to Member States

1. The Union contribution referred to in Article 1 paragraph 1 shall take the form of a reimbursement of 50 % of the costs of the tests performed by the competent authorities to implement the control plan referred to in point 1 of the Commission Recommendation.

2. The Union contribution shall not exceed:

3. Only the costs indicated in Annex II shall be eligible for contribution.

Article 3

Eligible costs to Centre Wallon de Recherches agronomiques (CRA-W), Gembloux, Belgium

1. The Union contribution referred to in Article 1 paragraph 2 shall take the form of a reimbursement of 100 % of the costs of the tasks related to calibration and coordination of the testing method used in the coordinated control plan referred to in the Commission Recommendation.

2. The following costs are eligible:

3. The costs shall be reported by 31 August 2014 in accordance with the format in Annex IV of this Decision.

Article 4

Eligibility rules

1. The Union contribution referred to in Article 1 paragraph 1 is subject to the following conditions:

2. The Commission may reduce the amount of the contribution referred to in Article 1 in cases where the conditions referred to in para 1 are not met, having regard to the nature and gravity of the non-compliance and to the potential financial loss for the Union.

3. At the request of the Commission, the Member States shall provide the documents providing evidence of the costs incurred for which a reimbursement is claimed in accordance with Article 2.

Article 5

Currency and conversion rate

1. The expenditure submitted by the Member States for a financial contribution by the Union shall be expressed in euro and shall exclude value added tax and all other taxes.

2. Where the expenditure of a Member State is in a currency other than the euro, the Member State concerned shall convert it into euro by applying the most recent exchange rate set by the European Central Bank, prior to the first day of the month in which the application is submitted by the Member State.

Article 6

This Decision constitutes a financing decision in the meaning of Article 84 of the Financial Regulation.

Article 7

This Decision shall be applicable from the date of publication of the Commission Recommendation.

Article 8

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1.

(2) Commission Recommendation 2014/180/EU of 27 March 2014 on a second coordinated control plan with a view to establishing the prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods (see page 64 of this Official Journal).

(3) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).

(4) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1).