On the 28th May 2008, the European Commission published notification of state aid granted aimed at the Cattle, sheep and pig production business in United Kingdom. Specifically to Wales, the aid is entitled the Welsh Red Meat Technical Support (Producers) Scheme. The scheme started on the 1st April 2008 and will continue until 31st March 2014.

The scheme is restricted to SME red meat Producers in Wales. It will encourage the production of quality red meats and will provide a range of technical support to producers in Wales. The activities include:

1. Measures to encourage the production of quality red meat.
2. Non-routine consultancy services. No payments will be made directly to producers.
3. Education and training, and the organisation of events and competitions to further develop farming skills, with support to participants.

Hybu Cig Cymru — Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) based in Aberystwyth is the industry-led organisation responsible for the development, promotion and marketing of Welsh red meat. HCC is undertaking proceedings within the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006; Government of Wales Act 2006; Welsh Levy Board Order 2007/2008. They will dispose of an estimated 1.75 million euros for every year that the scheme is running (total expenditure 10.5 million euros). Some eligible costs of the scheme:

• costs of pre-competitive market research activities.
• costs of conception and design of quality products.
• costs of introducing quality assurance schemes.
• costs of initial certification of quality schemes.
• costs of training personnel to apply quality schemes.
• costs of annual incentives to quality scheme participants.
• costs of researching and creating schemes for protected food names.