The European Commission decided, on 10 March, that aid of €715,000 granted, in 1999, by the Dutch province of Flevoland to Farm Dairy Flevoland was compatible with state aid rules. Farm Dairy Flevoland, based in Lelystad, is specialised in the production of bottled milk, yoghurts and milk-based desserts. Generally, rules on investments for the processing and marketing of agricultural products do not allow investment aid for milk products unless it leads to substantial innovation. The Commission observed that Farm Dairy was the first company to market two-litre bottles of milk on the Dutch market and that it used innovative technology to develop this product. The EU executive consequently approved the aid granted by the Netherlands to the dairy firm.