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Agriculture and rural development

School scheme explained

The EU school scheme supports the distribution of milk, fruit & vegetables to millions of children, from nursery to secondary school, across the EU.

Aims

Consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables and milk in the European Union does not meet international or national nutritional recommendations. On the other hand, consumption of processed food, which is often high in added sugar, salt, fat or additives, is on the rise.

Unhealthy diets, together with low physical activity, result in obesity. This is why the EU takes action to encourage children to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.

EU School scheme consultation

Overview

Applicable since 1 August 2017, the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme combines two previous schemes (the school fruit and vegetables scheme and the school milk scheme) under a single legal framework. This allows for greater efficiency and an enhanced focus on health and education. The scheme supports the distribution of products, educational measures and information measures.

Distribution

The scheme supports the distribution of fruit, vegetables, milk and certain milk products to schoolchildren, from nursery to secondary school. EU countries approve a list of products (in collaboration with their health and nutrition authorities) which will help achieve the schemes objective of helping children to follow a healthy diet.

The priority is for fresh fruit and vegetables and for plain milk. In order to support a varied diet and/or specific nutritional needs, EU countries may also make processed fruit and vegetables such as juices and certain milk products such as yoghurt and cheese, available. Additionally, under stricter conditions, milk-based drinks may be included.

Seasonality, variety, availability, health and environmental aspects underpin the choice of products. EU countries may encourage local, short-supply chain, organic and quality scheme products if they wish. Generally, no added sugar, salt, fat and sweeteners or artificial flavours are allowed. The health and nutrition authorities in EU countries may allow, as an exception, limited quantities of added salt, fat and, for milk products, sugar.

Educational measures

The scheme also supports educational measures. This can include lessons but can also help fund farm visits, school gardens, tasting and cooking workshops, theme days and games.

Their objective is to reconnect children to agriculture and teach them about healthy eating habits. Issues such as local food chains, organic farming, sustainable production or food waste may also be covered. Educational activities may also involve teachers and parents as they are role models for children’s healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

Information measures

Funding is also available for information activities to ensure the visibility of the scheme, as well as monitoring and evaluation to account for the proper functioning of the scheme.

Review of the scheme

A public consultation of the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme took place from 5 May until 28 July 2022. This consultation was conducted as part of the Farm to Fork strategy that aims to increase the scheme’s impact on sustainable food consumption and strengthen educational messages on healthy nutrition.

The executive summary of the evaluation support study of the EU school scheme is published in order to support the review of its legislative framework.

The Commission presented findings from the evaluation support study, public consultation and Eurobarometer 520 during the ‘An EU school scheme fit for the future’ conference, which took place in Brussels on 24 November 2022. Public and private stakeholders were able to share their views and suggestions on initial proposals.

Budget

After the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU, the total EU budget for the scheme amounts to €220.8 million per school year, consisting of up to €130.6 million for fruit and vegetables and up to €90.1 million for milk.

Indicative EU budget by country for the period from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2029

Each country may transfer part of its EU budget for fruit and vegetables to milk, or vice versa, depending on its priorities and needs. It may also request only part of its budget, or conversely more than its budget. The European Commission adopts a decision to fix the EU budget by country for each school year.

From school year 2023/2024 onwards, aid applicants have the possibility to request advances (up to a maximum of 80% of the aid applicants are entitled to).

2024/25 school year – EU budget by country

2023/24 school year – EU budget by country

2022/23 school year – EU budget by country

2021/22 school year – EU budget by country

2020/21 school year – EU budget by country

2019/20 school year – EU budget by country

  • 19 AUGUST 2019
2018/19 school year – EU budget per country
  • 19 AUGUST 2019
2017/18 school year – EU budget per country

Redistribution of 2022/23 funding to support displaced Ukrainian children

In June 2022, the Commission published a regulation which invited EU countries to review their requests for aid under the school scheme for the 2022/23 school year. This came in light of the unprecedented situation brought about by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which calls for solidarity between EU countries to ease the burden on those at the forefront of catering for displaced Ukrainian children.

EU countries submitted either the additional amount they were requesting under the scheme, or the amount of their national allocation that was not required. Any unused amounts were redirected to the countries welcoming the highest number of Ukrainian children. As a result, a total of 2.9 million euro was redistributed to cater for the needs of displaced Ukrainian children in EU schools.

School scheme by country

Countries that wish to participate in the scheme draw up a strategy, at national or regional level, covering a period of six years.

Each country's strategy outlines the objectives (such as an increase in fruit and vegetables consumption to meet the recommended five portions per day), the beneficiaries (e.g. children in primary schools), the products, the education activities and arrangements for the implementation of the scheme.

Each participating country is required to monitor and evaluate the scheme. Monitoring reports cover each school year.

Evaluation reports for the period 2017-2023 were submitted to the Commission and are respectively available in each EU country's webpage.

The Commission does not approve the countries’ strategies, or monitoring and evaluation reports. It makes them public, together with providing a contact point in each country for information on how to participate and details on implementation.

Strategies, evaluation, monitoring reports and contacts by country.

Legal bases

The following regulations set out the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme (please refer to the consolidated version of each regulation):

Documents

Commission Report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the application of the budget allocation criteria and on the impact of the budget transfers on the effectiveness of the EU School Fruit, Vegetables and Milk Scheme

  • 1 AUGUST 2023
Annexes to EU Parliament and Council report on budget allocation criteria and transfer impact on EU School Scheme effectiveness
  • 27 JUNE 2024
School scheme monitoring report summary – 2022/23 school year
  • 15 OCTOBER 2024
School scheme monitoring report summary – 2021/22 school year
  • 30 MAY 2022
School scheme monitoring report summary – 2020/21 school year
  • 12 JANUARY 2022
School scheme monitoring report summary – 2019/20 school year
  • 12 MARCH 2021
School scheme monitoring report summary – 2018/19 school year
  • 31 MARCH 2020
Factsheet: EU school scheme 2018/19 school year
  • 6 MAY 2019
School scheme monitoring report summary – 2017/18 school year
  • 14 JUNE 2019
Factsheet: EU school scheme 2017/18 school year