MIPAAF: Non-repayable contributions for catering, pastry and ice cream parlors

The criteria and methods for using the fund to support the excellence of Italian gastronomy and agri-food have been defined. Catering companies  , the production of fresh pastries, ice cream parlours and pastry shops can benefit from the facilitations. Expenses relating to the purchase of professional machinery and goods instrumental to the company's activity are eligible.    The capital goods purchased must be maintained in the balance sheet of the enterprise for at least three years from the date of granting the contribution. The fund provides for the disbursement of a capital contribution not exceeding: 70% of the total eligible expenses; to 30,000 euros per single company.

The decree of 4 July 2022, of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, established the criteria and methods of use of the capital fund for the support of the excellence of Italian gastronomy and agri-food.

The fund, which has a financial allocation available for the granting of contributions totaling 56,000,000 euros, of which 25,000,000 euros for the year 2022 and 31,000,000 euros for the year 2023, intends to promote and support the excellence of  Italian catering and pastry  as well as enhancing the Italian agri-food and food and wine heritage, with interventions that encourage the enhancement of products with designation of origin and geographical indication and Italian agri-food excellence, investments in professional machinery and other durable capital goods.

Beneficiaries

Companies that meet the following requirements can benefit from the facilitations:

– if operating in the sector identified by the ATECO code 56.10.11 (Catering with administration) regularly constituted and registered as active in the Register of Companies for at least ten years or, alternatively, have purchased in the twelve months prior to the date of publication of this decree products certified DOP, PGI, SQNPI, SQNZ and organic products for at least 25% of the total food products purchased in the same period;

– if operating in the sector identified by the ATECO code 56.10.30 (Ice cream parlours and pastry shops) and the ATECO code 10.71.20  (Production of fresh pastries), be regularly constituted and registered as active in the Register of Companies for at least ten years or, alternatively, have purchased PDO certified products in the twelve months prior to the  date of publication of this decree, PGI, SQNPI and organic products for at least 5% of the total food products purchased in the same period.

In both cases, beneficiaries must:

– be in full and free exercise of their rights, are not in voluntary liquidation and are not subject to insolvency proceedings or any other equivalent situation pursuant to current legislation;

– not be in difficulty, as defined in the exemption regulation;

– be registered with INPS or INAIL and have a regular contribution position, as resulting from the single document of contributory regularity (DURC);

– be in compliance with tax obligations;

– not having returned any sums due as a result of measures to revoke benefits granted by the Ministry;

– not having received and subsequently not repaid or deposited in a blocked account aid identified as illegal or incompatible by the European Commission pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 23 May 2007 ('Deggendorf Undertaking').

Eligible expenditure

Expenses relating to the purchase of  professional machinery and goods instrumental to the company's activity, new factory, organic and functional , purchased under normal market conditions by third parties who have no relationship with the company are eligible; The capital goods purchased must be maintained in the balance sheet of the enterprise for at least three years from the date of granting the contribution.

  Expenses incurred for :

(a) the purchase of components, spare parts or parts of machinery, plant and equipment which do not meet the requirement of functional autonomy;

(b) land and buildings, including masonry works of all kinds, including water, electricity, alarm, heating and cooling systems;

(c) vehicles with license plates;

(d) used or remanufactured goods;

e) utilities of any kind, including the supply of electricity, gas, etc.;

(f) taxes and duties;

(g) social contributions and contributions of all kinds;

(h) meal vouchers;

i) legal and notary costs;

j) advice of any kind;

(k) expenditure not directly related to the activity of the undertaking.

Amount and method of disbursement of the incentive

The fund provides for the disbursement of a capital contribution not exceeding:

 – 70% (seventy per cent) of the total eligible expenditure;

– 30,000 (thirty thousand/00 ) euros per single company.

For the purposes of disbursement of contributions, the company must submit a specific request according to the terms and conditions that will be defined within thirty days from the date of entry into force of the decree.  

The request for disbursement must be sent by the company to the Ministry within  thirty days following the date of completion of the expenses attaching to the request for  disbursement of the facilitation:

a) copy of electronic invoices relating to the purchase of professional machinery and capital goods;

(b) documentation certifying full traceability of the costs incurred by the undertaking (payment orders and statements of account);

(c) final technical report describing the investments made and certifying full payment of the related expenses.

The disbursement will take place within ninety days of receipt of the request, subject to verification by Invitalia of compliance with the subjective and objective requirements and the completeness and regularity of the documentation transmitted.

An advance  payment of a maximum  of 50% of the requested contribution is envisaged, upon presentation by the beneficiaries of the  loan of a bank or insurance guarantee.

Submission of applications and granting of grants

The terms and procedures for submitting  applications for subsidies will be defined, within thirty days from the date of entry into force of the Ministerial Decree of 4 July 2022, by order of the Director of the Directorate General for  the promotion of agri-food quality and horse racing of the Ministry,  published in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic and on the website of the Ministry (www.politicheagricole.it) and Invitalia (www.invitalia.it).

The schemes on the basis of which applications for facilitation must be submitted will be attached to the  measure.

Beneficiaries of the measure

The measure encourages companies with Ateco Code 56.10.11 "catering with administration" (Companies A) or companies with Ateco Code 56.10.30 "Ice cream parlors and pastry shops" and 10.71.20 "Production of fresh pastries" (Companies B), which are in compliance with  the DURC, tax obligations and regularly constituted and active in the Business Register for at least 10  years or,  alternatively, in the12 months prior to 30/8/2022, have purchased PDO, PGI, SQNPI, SQNZ certified products (for A companies only) and organic products for at least 25% (for A companies) and 5%  (for B companies)  of the total food products purchased in the same period.

Admitted interventions

To this end, expenses incurred after the submission of the application and related to the purchase of professional machinery and capital goods for business activity are eligible.

The assets must be new from the factory, acquired under normal market conditions and by third parties, who have no relation to the enterprise, and be  kept in the balance sheet of the enterprise for at least three years from the date on which the grant was granted.

Charges are not allowed for:

• components, spare parts or parts of machinery/plant/equipment that do not meet the requirement of functional autonomy;
• land, buildings, masonry;
• used or regenerated goods.

Facilitation and deadlines

The Fund for the support of the excellence of Italian gastronomy and agri-food offers a non-repayable contribution of up to 70% of eligible expenses and in any case within the limit of € 30,000 per individual company.

We await the release of the measure, soon to be issued, which will define the terms and methods of submission of the application.