Things
Article 1, paragraph 1090, of law no. 205 of 27 December 2017 established a specific fund for fair trade in the statement of estimates of the Ministry of Economic Development, with an endowment of one million euros per year starting from year 2018. Public administrations that launch tenders for the supply of consumer products to their facilities may include, in the tender specifications, mechanisms that promote the use of fair trade products. In favor of the contracting companies, a reimbursement of up to 15 percent of the increased costs incurred for the purchase of the fair trade products envisaged in the subject of the tender is recognized, within the limits of the resources available in the Fund. With directorial decree of 19 September 2023, the deadlines for submitting applications are reopened from 12pm on 20 September 2023 to 12pm on 30 September 2023.
Who is it aimed at?
The Fund for fair trade products is aimed at companies which, on the date of submission of the application for assistance: must have been awarded tenders announced by public administrations which, in compliance with the provisions of the relevant tender specifications, have provided , by virtue of a contractual relationship in place on the date of the directorial decree of 31 July 2023 n. 518, fair trade products; they must be regularly established, registered and active in the Business Register; they must be active; they must be in the full and free exercise of their rights, are not in voluntary liquidation and are not subject to insolvency proceedings or to any other equivalent situation pursuant to current legislation; they must not be in a difficult situation, as defined by article 2, paragraph 18 of regulation no. 651/2014; they must be in compliance with the provisions in force regarding building and urban planning regulations, work, accident prevention and environmental protection; they must be in compliance with tax obligations; they must have repaid any sums due following provisions for the revocation of benefits granted by the Ministry for various and/or different reasons; they must be registered with INPS or INAIL and have a regular contributory position, as resulting from the single contribution regularity document (DURC). In any case, companies excluded from the benefits are: against which the disqualification sanction referred to in Article 9, paragraph 2, letter d) of Legislative Decree no. 8 June 2001 has been applied. 231 and subsequent amendments and additions; whose legal representatives or administrators, on the date of submission of the request for reimbursement, have been convicted, with a final sentence or criminal decree of conviction which has become irrevocable or sentence of application of the penalty upon request pursuant to article 444 of the criminal procedure code, for crimes that constitute grounds for the exclusion of an economic operator from participation in a procurement or concession procedure pursuant to the legislation on public contracts relating to works, services and supplies in force on the date of submission of the application; who have received and subsequently not reimbursed or deposited in a blocked account aid identified as illegal or incompatible by the European Commission pursuant to the Prime Ministerial Decree of 23 May 2007 ("Deggendorf Commitment").
What does it predict
The benefits are granted in the form of reimbursement of up to 15% of the additional costs incurred for the purchase of the fair trade products envisaged in the subject of the tender. The maximum reimbursement that can be granted to each beneficiary cannot, however, exceed the amount of 10,000.00 euros. Expenses incurred for the purchase of fair trade products relating to raw materials, semi-finished products and consumables are eligible for the benefits. For eligibility purposes, the expenses must: be determined on the basis of the invoice amounts; the electronic invoice must make explicit reference to the unit cost of the goods supplied, plus any customs duties, transport and packaging. All expenses not strictly related to the above cost items are excluded from the benefits.
