2014/176/EU: 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)

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 ‘Commission Recommendation’), with a total maximum amount of EUR 145440.

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 20000.

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

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: (a) on average EUR 60 per test; (b) the amounts indicated in Annex I.

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

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: (a) personnel specifically allocated entirely or in part for carrying out the tasks in the premises of the laboratory; the costs are limited to actual salaries plus social security charges and other statutory costs included in the remuneration; (b) consumables related to preparation of the standard samples; (c) shipment costs; (d) overheads equal to 7 % of the sum of the costs in (a), (b), and (c).

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

1 The Union contribution referred to in Article 1 paragraph 1 is subject to the following conditions: (a) the tests have been performed in accordance with the terms of the Commission Recommendation; (b) the Member States have provided the Commission with the report referred to in the Commission Recommendation within the deadline provided for therein; (c) by 31 August 2014, the Member States have provided the Commission, in electronic form, with a financial report according to the format laid out in Annex III of this Decision.

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.

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.

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

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

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.