Regulation No. 1816 on funds for investment and enterprise development in agriculture

§ 1. Purpose The purpose of funding for investment and business development in agriculture is to facilitate long-term and profitable value creation, as well as to contribute to employment, settlement and varied agriculture in all parts of the country, based on agricultural resources in general and agricultural property in particular.

§ 2. Areas of action Within the framework of the agricultural settlement, the state budget and regional rural development programs, funds for investment and business development can be provided to the owner of agricultural property or registered enterprises to support investments in connection with the establishment, upgrading and modernization of the operating equipment, or for the development of agricultural-based industries. Grants may also be granted to other persons with special attachment to the agricultural property if the grant is granted for the development of other agricultural-based industries. 0 Amended by Regulation Dec 20, 2018 No. 2179 (effective Jan 1, 2019).

§ 3. Action groups and grant level https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-12-19-1816?q=covid 1/3 4/4/2020 Regulations on funds for investment and business development in agriculture - Lovdata Funds for investment and business development in agriculture can be provided as grants to: a) Establishment of new business: For the preparation and establishment of new business in agricultural- based industries other than traditional agriculture, which aims to expand, grants can be granted up to 75 percent of the costs, limited up to 75 percent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. b) Business development: For product development, competence building, market research, test sales, networking and marketing of new products, grants of up to 50 per cent of the costs can be granted, limited up to 50 per cent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. For companies where the majority of ownership interests are controlled by persons under 35 or by women, the subsidy share can be increased to 75 per cent. c) Investments in production facilities: For investments in fixed facilities and associated production equipment of a permanent nature, grants can be granted up to 35 per cent of the costs, limited up to 35 per cent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. The upper limit for the grant is NOK 2 million per project. The upper limit does not apply in Troms and Finnmark counties. When using wood as a building material, a grant of up to 20 per cent of the grant granted under the first paragraph can also be granted, limited up to NOK 400,000. When measuring the grant, the degree of wood use in the project shall be taken into account. d) - - - e) Investment in fruit and berry cultivation: For new plantings in organic fruit and berry cultivation, up to 50 per cent of the costs can be subsidized, limited up to 50 per cent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. For new plantings in conventional fruit and berry cultivation, grants can be granted for up to 35 per cent of the costs, limited up to 35 per cent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. f) Investments in connection with generational change: To persons under 35 who take over agricultural property, grants may be granted for smaller investments with up to 50 per cent of the costs, limited up to 50 per cent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. For women, the contribution rate can be increased to 70 per cent. g) Investment in fertilizer storage: For the construction of fertilizer storage with fixed top deck or minimum 10-month storage capacity. Grants can be granted for up to 20 per cent of the costs, limited up to 20 per cent of the approved cost estimate for the measure. The upper limit for grants is set at NOK 100,000 per project. Grants cannot be granted for measures that have begun before the application for grants has been decided, or measures on agricultural properties wholly owned and operated by the state, county or municipality. Innovation Norway may exceed the upper limit for grants in section 3, first paragraph, if the project can document significant cost increases or loss of revenue and hence liquid funds as a result of the covid-19 outbreak or the fall in the krone exchange rate. 0 Amended by Regulations Dec 18, 2015 No. 1745 (effective Jan. 1, 2016), June 29, 2016 No. 842 (effective July 1, 2016), June 30, 2017 No. 1086 (effective July 1, 2017), Aug. 8, 2017 no. 1239 , Dec. 1, 2017 No. 1906 , Dec. 20, 2018, No. 2179 (effective Jan. 1, 2019), Dec. 20, 2019, No. 2068 (effective Jan. 1, 2020), April 3, 2020, No. 581.

§ 4. Guidance, application and payment The municipality and Innovation Norway shall provide guidance on applications pursuant to these regulations. The grant applicant must use the application form set by Innovation Norway. Before the application is processed by Innovation Norway, the municipality must comment on matters of importance to the project applied for. Upon further request from Innovation Norway, the municipality shall provide further information and reporting related to the case. In the event of a demand for final payment, the municipality shall give an assessment of the project report and confirm that the project is complete. Innovation Norway can set additional requirements for the application and set conditions for the grant. 0 Amended by Regulation Dec 20, 2018 No. 2179 (effective Jan 1, 2019). https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-12-19-1816?q=covid 2/3 4/4/2020 Regulations on funds for investment and business development in agriculture - Lovdata

§ 5. Administration, dispensation and appeal Grants under this regulation are managed by Innovation Norway. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food can grant exemptions from the regulations in special cases. Decisions made by Innovation Norway can be appealed to Innovation Norway's Appeals Board. Decisions made by Innovation Norway's Executive Board can be appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

§ 6. Opplysningsplikt og kontroll Søkere av tilskudd plikter å gi alle opplysninger som Innovasjon Norge eller kommunen finner nødvendig for å kunne forvalte ordningen. Innovasjon Norge kan føre kontroll med at vilkår for utbetaling av tilskudd er oppfylt. Søker plikter å utlevere all bokføring, korrespondanse og opptegnelser som vedkommer tilskuddet. Innovasjon Norge kan foreta stedlig kontroll hos tilskuddsmottakeren. Etter anmodning fra Innovasjon Norge skal kommunen utstede ferdigattest. Kommunen kan foreta stedlig kontroll hos tilskuddsmottakeren. Dersom kommunen blir kjent med forhold som tilsier at forutsetningene for tilskuddet ikke lenger er til stede, skal kommunen melde dette til Innovasjon Norge. 0 Endret ved forskrift 20 des 2018 nr. 2179 (i kraft 1 jan 2019).

§ 7. Reimbursement requirements The grant may be reimbursed in whole or in part if incorrect information has been provided that has formed the basis for payment of the grant, or where the terms of the undertaking are not complied with. In such cases, interest may be required from the time of payment of the unlawful grant. The interest rate shall be set equal to the interest rate fixed at all times by the Ministry of Finance pursuant to section 3 of Act 17 December 1976 No. 100 on interest on late payment etc.

§ 8. Entry into force This regulation enters into force on 1 January 2015. From the same date, regulation 75 of January 28, 2009 No. 75 on funds for rural development is repealed . https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2014-12-19-1816?q=covid 3/3