Bulgaria's State Fund Agriculture (SFA) and the National Association of Dairy Processors have signed a contract for the implementation of the EU-approved "Promotion of dairy products in third countries (Russia, Brazil)" program.

The national promotional program has an implementation period of three years, SFA informs in a Wednesday media statement.

The total budget of the program amounts to around EUR 3 M for the three annual phases of the implementation of the contract.

The program aims to actively acquaint target consumers with the diverse range of dairy products and to boost the consumption of the promoted products - white brined cheese, yellow cheese and yoghurt.

Half of the funding of the project is provided under the under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF), another 30% is national co-financing and the remaining 20% is to be supplied by the beneficiary.

The programs aimed at promoting agricultural and food products can be developed by associations of producers or producers and traders, the SFA writes.

They can submit documents at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

There are two deadlines for each year - September 30 (first submission) and by April 15 (second submission).

The standing consultative committee at the Agriculture Ministry determines which programs are presented for approval to the Agriculture Minister and subsequently to the European Commission.

The contracts with the SFA are signed within 90 days of the date of announcement of the EC decision.

The association needs to submit a guarantee with the SFA for the fulfillment of the commitment amounting to 15% of the maximum annual financing under the program.