Joint implementation of the school schemes

A new ordinance that consolidates the conditions for the implementation of the “School Fruit” and “School Milk” schemes will lead to a reduction of the administrative burden both for the beneficiaries and for the authorities responsible for their implementation.

The Council of Ministers adopted a new ordinance on the conditions for the implementation of the “School Fruit” and “School Milk” schemes. Under the new rules, from the next school year 2017/18 it will be mandatory for all Member States of the European Union to merge the two schemes and combine them into one. In order to continue promoting healthy eating habits among pupils and to facilitate the implementation of the schemes, with a view to ensuring the effective and targeted use of Union funds, the two school schemes are being merged into one. It is expected that this will reduce the administrative burden and that the consolidation will lower the costs of food suppliers for schools in the country. The implementation of the schemes will also be co-financed with funds provided for in the budget of the State Fund "Agriculture".

“School Fruit” scheme has been successfully implemented in our country since 2010. Its implementation receives positive public feedback and the number of participants increases every school year. The overall objective of the scheme for the provision of fruit in schools is to provide a legal and financial framework for a sustainable increase in the share of fruit and vegetables in children’s diets and to develop their healthy eating habits. The main preventive measure in the fight against childhood obesity is the daily consumption of 400 grams of a variety of vegetables and fruit – the optimal intake recommended by the World Health Organization.

“School Milk” scheme The “School Milk” scheme has been implemented in Bulgaria since 2009. The campaign aims to offer dairy products from domestic producers in school canteens, which are manufactured in accordance with BDS and labelled in compliance with European requirements. As a result of the new approach applied in 2015 and the national funding provided, interest in the scheme has increased many times over.

Officially, as of 1 August 2017, the two existing schemes in the European Union – “School Fruit” and “School Milk” – will be aligned with the Union’s single legal framework. The new rules aim at higher efficiency, more targeted support and an improved educational dimension.

The total EU budget for the two schemes is 250 million euro for one school year, of which 150 million euro for fruit and vegetables and 100 million euro for milk.

More information can be found HERE