Press Release: Aids in favour of tobacco producers in Italy

The European Commission has decided not to raise objections with respect to a compensatory aid granted by Italy to tobacco producers who suffered severe losses of production due to an outbreak of the Potato Virus Y which affected their crops in 1997. The aid, which forms part of a regional programme for the control and eradication of the disease, will be granted to farmers who suffered losses equal at least to 30% of their normal production. It will not exceed 100% of the losses actually sustained.