Erzeugergemeinschaft Anerkennung

Agricultural producer groups are associations of owners of agricultural businesses based on the motto "together we are stronger".

The aim of producer groups is to pool production and thus strengthen their market position.

As a farmer in a producer association, you can purchase feed, seed or agricultural equipment together at low cost, for example. By jointly marketing your products, you remain competitive as a farmer in the producer group. This also improves the market position of agriculture.

Associations of producer groups within the meaning of this law are associations of producer groups for a specific product or a group of related products.

You can form producer groups for slaughter cattle and piglets, milk, fish products, eggs and poultry, wine, quality cereals and potatoes.

In a producer group, you must comply with uniform production and quality rules.

Recognized producer groups and recognized associations of producer groups can receive state aid under certain conditions. Subsidies are granted, for example, for good marketing, effective sales strategies for quality agricultural and food products, or investments to improve processing and marketing.

The application for recognition must be submitted in writing to the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection. The application must be accompanied by:

1.the applicable statutes of the agricultural organization,

2. a list with first names and surnames, in the case of legal entities the names, of all members of the agricultural organization existing at the time of the application, including their respective addresses,

3. proof for each member named in number 2 that it meets the requirements of agricultural organization law for membership, and

4. proof of the legal form (extract from the register or certified copy of the articles of association of an association of persons).

A producer group must meet the general requirements for recognition with regard to

legal form

reason for formation

Head office

articles of association

and the special recognition requirements, for example with regard to product area, objectives, minimum number of members and tendering obligations, which apply to the applicant agricultural organization.

• Contractual penalties for culpable breach of material membership obligations

The application form must be completed and the required documents attached for recognition of a producer group.

A decision will be issued on the application.

You should seek advice from expert institutions and individuals when forming producer groups or associations of producer groups. In addition to trade associations and existing associations (e.g. state association of the dairy industry, cooperative association), the chambers of agriculture are also suitable for this purpose.

The recognition of producer groups and associations can be revoked if the requirements for recognition are no longer met or if they have violated legal regulations. Recognition is revoked by written notification.

Agricultural producer group, recognition

• Producer groups are associations of farm owners for a specific product or a group of related products
• By jointly marketing their products, the farmers in the producer group can pool their supply and thus remain competitive
• Producer groups can better adapt their products to the requirements of the market through uniform production and quality rules

Forms for the recognition of agricultural producer groups can be found on the homepage of the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection https://www.lanuv.nrw.de/verbraucherschutz/marktueberwachung/agrarmarktstruktur.