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1. Union aid shall be granted in respect of children in the educational establishments referred to in Article 22:

(a) for the supply and distribution of eligible products referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this Article;

(b) for accompanying educational measures; and (c) to cover certain related costs linked to equipment, publicity, monitoring and evaluation, and, insofar as those costs are not covered by point (a) of this subparagraph, logistics and distribution. The Council shall, in accordance with Article 43(3) TFEU, lay down limits for the proportion of Union aid covering measures and costs referred to in points (b) and (c) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph.

2. For the purposes of this Section:

(a) ‘school fruit and vegetables’ means the products referred to in point (a) of paragraph 3 and point (a) of paragraph 4;

(b) ‘school milk’ means the products referred to in point (b) of paragraph 3 and point (b) of paragraph 4, as well as the products referred to in Annex V.

3. Member States wishing to participate in the aid scheme established pursuant to paragraph 1 (‘the school scheme’) and requesting the corresponding Union aid shall, taking into account national circumstances, prioritise the distribution of products of either or both of the following groups:

(a) fruit and vegetables and fresh products of the banana sector;

(b) drinking milk and lactose-free versions thereof.

4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, in order to promote the consumption of specific products and/or to respond to particular nutritional needs of children in their territory, Member States may provide for the distribution of products of either or both of the following groups:

(a) processed fruit and vegetable products, in addition to the products referred to in point (a) of paragraph 3;

(b) cheese, curd, yoghurt and other fermented or acidified milk products without added flavouring, fruit, nuts or cocoa, in addition to the products referred to in point (b) of paragraph 3.

5. In cases where Member States consider it necessary for the attainment of the objectives of the school scheme and the goals stated in the strategies referred to in paragraph 8, they may supplement the distribution of products referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 with products listed in Annex V. In such cases, the Union aid shall be paid only for the milk component of the distributed product. That milk component shall not be lower than 90 % by weight for products of Category I of Annex V and 75 % by weight for products of Category II of Annex V. The level of Union aid for the milk component shall be fixed by the Council in accordance with Article 43(3) TFEU.

6. Products distributed under the school scheme shall not contain any of the following:

(a) added sugars;

(b) added salt;

(c) added fat;

(d) added sweeteners;

(e) added artificial flavour enhancers E 620 to E 650 as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ().

Notwithstanding the first subparagraph of this paragraph, any Member State may, after obtaining the appropriate authorisation from its national authorities responsible for health and nutrition in accordance with its national procedures, decide that eligible products referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 may contain limited quantities of added sugar, added salt and/or added fat.

7. In addition to products referred to in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this Article, Member States may provide for the inclusion of other agricultural products under the accompanying educational measures, in particular those listed in points (g) and (v) of Article 1(2).

8. As a condition for its participation in the school scheme, a Member State shall draw up, prior to its participation in the school scheme, and subsequently every six years, at national or regional level, a strategy for the implementation of the scheme. The strategy may be amended by the authority responsible for drawing it up at national or regional level, in particular in the light of monitoring and evaluation and of the results achieved. The strategy shall at least identify the needs to be met, the ranking of the needs in terms of priorities, the target group, the results expected to be achieved and, if available, the quantified targets to be attained in relation to the initial situation, and lay down the most appropriate instruments and actions for attaining those objectives. The strategy may contain specific elements relating to the implementation of the school scheme, including those intended to simplify its management.

9. Member States shall determine in their strategies the list of all the products to be supplied under the school scheme either through regular distribution or under accompanying educational measures. Without prejudice to paragraph 6, they shall also ensure the appropriate involvement of their national authorities responsible for health and nutrition in drawing up that list, or the appropriate authorisation by those authorities of that list, in accordance with national procedures.

10. Member States shall, in order to make the school scheme effective, also provide for accompanying educational measures, which may include, inter alia, measures and activities aimed at reconnecting children with agriculture through activities, such as farm visits, and the distribution of a wider variety of agricultural products as referred to in paragraph 7. Those measures may also be designed to educate children about related issues, such as healthy eating habits, local food chains, organic farming, sustainable production or combating food waste.

11. Member States shall choose the products to be featured in distribution or to be included in accompanying educational measures on the basis of objective criteria which shall include one or more of the following: health and environmental considerations, seasonality, variety and the availability of local or regional produce, giving priority to the extent practicable to products originating in the Union. Member States may encourage in particular local or regional purchasing, organic products, short supply chains or environmental benefits, including sustainable packaging, and, if appropriate, products recognised under the quality schemes established by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. Member States may consider, in their strategies, prioritising sustainability and fair-trade considerations.