EU approves measures to promote agricultural products abroad

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12 (Chinese media) -- The European Commission said on Friday it had approved measures to provide information on and to promote European Union (EU) agricultural products in third countries.

"EU quality products are second to none," said Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. "Increasing their visibility on markets outside the EU is a major priority."

The Commission said it had accepted 11 programs submitted by member states, which are targeted at Russia, Ukraine, China, Japan and North America. The products covered are wine, fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products and organic products.

The EU will contribute half of the total budget of those programs, amounting to 17.8 million euros (23.7 million U.S. dollars).

The EU can fund measures in third countries that provide information on, or promote, agricultural products and food products. These measures can be public relations, promotional or publicity measures, in particular highlighting the advantages of EU products, especially in terms of quality, hygiene, food safety, nutrition, labeling, animal welfare or environment-friendliness.