Press Release: Commission declares state aid granted for the public rendering service in France between 1997 and 2002 to be compatible, subject to certain conditions

The Commission adopted a final positive decision on 14 December 2004 authorising state aid of some €829 million granted for the public rendering service (SPE) in France between 1997 and 2002. The aid was for rendering plants to remove and destroy, free of charge, fallen stock and slaughterhouse waste not allowed for human consumption. Approval of the aid was subject to the requirement that France reimburse all that part of the levy imposed on meat imported between 1997 and 2000. Aid for specific meat businesses, in the form of exemption from the levy on meat purchases, infringed the rules and was to be reimbursed.