Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme

Table of Contents



The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) provides aid to groups of fruit and vegetable growers, recognised as Producer Organisations (POs), to encourage them to work collaboratively and increase the quality and quantity of the produce they grow.

The FVAS in Scotland will cease being delivered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on behalf of the Scottish Ministers for operational programmes approved for the 2026 scheme year and onwards.

The administration of the Scheme in Scotland instead transfers to the Scottish Governments Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID).

However, the responsibility for PO recognition and monitoring will remain with the RPA.

In simple terms, this means that:

  • RPID will start to administer the Scheme from September 2025 when applications for new operational programmes (FV3 form and supporting documents) are due to be submitted and approved for the 2026 scheme year
  • RPID will then be responsible for all applications, amendments and claims for the 2026 scheme year onwards
  • scheme forms (excluding those relating to PO recognition) have been updated to reflect the switch from RPA to RPID including contact details to be used
  • any administration regarding 2025 scheme year and previous scheme years will continue to be dealt with by the RPA
  • Responsibility for PO recognition and monitoring will remain with the RPA
  • Recognition forms (e.g. FV1) remain in use

The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme Guidance Note (FVSG1) is unchanged. However, as it makes scheme administrative reference to RPA there has been page header reminders added to check this notice page to ensure cover of the changes from September 2025. The guidance includes key dates.

The Devolved Administration in Scotland is the Scottish Government.

The UK National Strategy for Sustainable Operational Programmes is unaffected and can be found at Annex 4 of the scheme guidance (FVSG1).

Key date Detail
1 January Implementation of new operational programmes commence
New year of existing operational programmes commence
15 February Deadline for POs to submit Annual Claims (form FV6) along with Annual Report (form FV5)
30 April Deadline for POs to submit evidence to support carry-over items included in their Annual Claim
15 August Deadline for Recognition / Merger applications (form FV1)
15 September Deadline for new operational programme applications (form FV3)
Changes to future years of existing operational programmes (form FV4)
Value of Marketed Production (VMP) declaration (form FVO4)
15 October Final date for payment of annual claims
15 December RPA to notify outcome of Recognition / Merger applications
Notification of approval / rejection of operational programmes commencing on 1 January of the following year
Confirmation of provisional level of financial assistance (based upon VMP declaration)

If you have any queries regarding the scheme, please email FVAS@gov.scot

All schemes