Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme
Since leaving the EU, DAERA continued to meet existing funding commitments under the legacy EU Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) which provides aid to recognised Producer Organisations (POs) in the fruit and vegetables sector.
In Northern Ireland (NI), DAERA will continue the FVAS until a suitable successor, co-designed with the local horticulture sector, is in place. DAERA will assume responsibility for FVAS administration in NI starting from the 2026 scheme year.
Producer Organisations
Under the Assimilated Common Market Organisation Regulation (EUR 2013/1308), individual farmers and growers in a variety of sectors are incentivised to come together to form Producer Organisations (POs). POs encourage growers to work collaboratively to strengthen their position in the supply chain and increase their competitiveness. The key benefits are that growers (and other supply chain actors) can share knowledge and technical information, reduce costs and achieve economies of scale, and manage risks. POs also provide a mechanism for promoting environmentally sound cultivation practices and production techniques, and climate change mitigation. In addition, POs benefit from exemptions from competition rules for certain activities.
PO recognition is a reserved matter for Defra. Further information on becoming a Producer Organisation is available at the link below:
Current POs in NI
The Producer Organisations (POs) currently active in Northern Ireland (NI) are listed below:
- NI Horticultural Growers Ltd.
- NI Horticulture PO Ltd.
Overview of the Scheme
POs in the fruit and vegetable sector are eligible for financial assistance for an approved Operational Programme under the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS). Approved programmes can run for a maximum of three years. Funding is provided at up to 50% of the eligible costs incurred and capped at 4.1% of the PO’s Value of Marketed Production (VMP). An additional 0.5% funding is available for crisis prevention and management measures. The remaining costs are met by the PO members’ contributions to an operational fund. Programmes must align with the 3 key priorities identified in the FVAS Strategy: to improve returns; to increase market share and to drive forward innovation. The Strategy also includes an Environmental Framework which identifies environmental needs and priorities, for example, reducing emissions; reducing environmental impact; waste reduction; maintaining biodiversity; preventing soil erosion.
POs and programmes must meet the requirements set out in legislation. The main pieces of assimilated law governing POs and the scheme are:
More information on these, other relevant legislation, and the full requirements of the scheme are included in the FVAS Guidance and Strategy at the link below:
Administration of the Scheme
Since EU Exit, the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) has been administered on a UK-wide basis by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on behalf of DAERA and the other Devolved Governments. However, after December 2025, the scheme will no longer continue on a UK-wide basis. DAERA will assume responsibility for FVAS administration in NI starting from the 2026 scheme year.
Producer Organisation (PO) recognition is a reserved matter, for which the RPA will remain responsible.
In simple terms, this means that:
- RPA will deal with applications for PO recognition and monitor compliance with PO recognition rules.
- RPA will deal with administration of programmes, including any related claims, payments and queries, up to, and including, the 2025 scheme year.
- DAERA will administer FVAS programmes from the 2026 scheme year onwards, starting with the submission, assessment and, where appropriate, approval of any new programmes, as well as any amendments and claims relating to these programmes during the 2026-28 programme period.
Key Dates for Scheme Year 2026
| 31 October 2025 | Deadline for new operational programme applications (form FV3 and relevant annexes) and Value of Marketed Production (VMP) declaration (form FVO4) |
| January 2026 | RPA to notify outcome of PO Recognition applications |
1 January 2026 | Implementation of new operational programmes commences |
| 20 January 2026 | Notification of approval / rejection of operational programmes commencing on 1 January Confirmation of provisional level of financial assistance (based upon VMP declaration) |
| 15 September 2026 | Changes to future years of existing operational programmes (form FV4) Value of Marketed Production (VMP) declaration (form FVO4) |
15 December 2026 | Confirmation of provisional level of financial assistance for scheme year 2027 (based upon VMP declaration) |
15 February 2027 | Deadline for POs to submit Annual Claims (form FV6) along with Annual Report (form FV5) |
| 30 April 2027 | Deadline for POs to submit evidence to support carry-over items included in their Annual Claim |
| 15 October 2027 | Final date for payment of annual claims |
Scheme Forms
The forms listed below, and guidance to help with their completion, are available from DAERA on request from the contact details below:
Whilst an attempt has been made to update FVAS programme forms and the scheme guidance to reflect the changes to responsibility for scheme administration, all documentation may not be fully up to date.
- FV3 – Application for an Operational Programme, and associated Annexes 1-8a
- FVO4 – Annual operational fund statement and VMP declaration
- FV4 – Application to amend an Existing Operational Programme
- FV5 – Annual Report
- FV6 – Annual/Advanced/Arrears Payment Request Form, and associated Annex
- FV7 – In-Year Amendments to Operational Programme
- FV8 – Authorisation Form
- FV12 - Changes to PO Membership
All forms should be completed electronically and emailed to FVAS@daera-ni.gov.uk. The authorised signature form (FV8) can be completed electronically, but should be printed and signed before sending to the email address. We will not accept photocopies of these forms.
The following form(s) is available from RPA:
- FV1 - Application for recognition as a Producer Organisation (PO)
Contact Details
DAERA Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme Team
Sustainable Agri-food Development Division,
Food, Farming & Rural Affairs Group, DAERA
Clare House, 303 Airport Road West,
Sydenham Intake, Belfast BT3 9ED
If you know the name of the person you wish to speak to, please telephone 0300 200 7850. For all other enquiries, please contact the customer helpline on 0300 200 7852 or email daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Complaints and Appeals
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is committed to providing its customers with high quality standards of service. We welcome your comments on the quality of service you received and, if you are unhappy with our service, please let us know why you are unhappy as soon as possible.
If you are not satisfied with the service you have received, please contact the FVAS Team at the contact details above in the first instance.
If you would like to make a formal complaint, please visit:
Appeals Against a Decision
Appeals against a DAERA decision in relation to the FVAS are currently set out in:
This legislation is subject to review. Any changes to the FVAS appeals rules and procedures will be published here when available.
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
If you remain dissatisfied with the Department’s final response to your complaint, you can refer your case to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman's Office (NIPSO).
The NIPSO provides a free and independent service. However, it is expected that you will have exhausted the full extent of the Department’s Complaints Procedure before your case will be considered.
You can write to:
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
Progressive House
33 Wellington Place
Belfast BT1 6HN
Freepost: Freepost NIPSO
Or contact by: Telephone: 02890 233821
Text Phone: 02890 897789
Free phone: 0800 34 34 24
- Email: nipso@nipso.org.uk
Use of Your Personal Data
The Department takes data protection, freedom of information and environmental information issues seriously. It takes care to ensure that any personal information received from you is dealt with in a way which complies with the requirements of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act (2018). This means that any personal information you supply will be processed principally for the purpose for which it has been provided. However, the Department is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided for this purpose. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for the audit or administration of public funds, in order to prevent and detect crime. In addition, the Department may also use it for other legitimate purposes in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation, Data Protection Act 2018, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004. For further information see the DAERA Privacy Statement.
FVAS Funding and Reporting
The total amount of the operational fund approved for all NI operational programmes for 2026 is £3,232,814.30 broken down as follows:
Total Amount (A=B+C) | Amount for crisis prevention and management measures (B) | Amount for other measures (C) | |
| Total amount of the operational fund approved for all operational programmes | £3,232,814.30 | £0 | £3,232,814.30 |
| (of which) Total amount of financing | £1,616,407.15 | £0 | £1,616,407.15 |
The FVAS Annual report for 2026, with information on Producer Organisations that received funding in 2026, will be uploaded in November 2026.