Article 39b Exceptional temporary support to farmers and SMEs particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisisF1E1F2

Support under this measure shall provide emergency assistance to farmers and SMEs particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis, aiming at ensuring continuity of their business activity, subject to the conditions set out in this Article.

Support shall be granted to farmers, as well as to SMEs active in processing, marketing or development of agricultural products covered by Annex I to the TFEU or cotton, except fishery products. The output of the production process may be a product not covered by that Annex.

F3The relevant authority shall target the support to beneficiaries who are most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, by determining, on the basis of available evidence, eligibility conditions and, where considered appropriate by the F4relevant authority concerned, selection criteria, which shall be objective and non-discriminatory.

The support shall take the form of a lump sum payment to be paid by 31 December 2021, based on applications for support approved by the competent authority by 30 June 2021. F6... The level of payment may be differentiated by categories of beneficiaries, in accordance with objective and non-discriminatory criteria.

The maximum amount of support shall not exceed EUR 7 000 per farmer and EUR 50 000 per SME.

When granting support under this Article, F7the relevant authority shall take into account the support granted under F8Regulation 508/2014 or direct payment support or private schemes to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.