The first-ninth graders who attend state and accredited private schools will receive by an apple a day. A sum of 40 million lei will be allocated from the state budget for purchasing and distributing the apples to schools. This is stipulated in a draft Government decision that was proposed for public debates, IPN reports.

The apples will be purchased in a centralized way through the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture, exclusively from national producers. Smaller agricultural producers will be able to form groups to meet the rules. There will be bought homogenous consignments of 100 tonnes each.

The managers of education institutions will be responsible for the organization of the distribution process through school eateries, preferably during the big recess. The apples will be mandatorily washed before being distributed to children.

The draft decision also envisions the carrying out of educative activities aimed at promoting a healthy eating regime, including the consumption of fresh fruit, such as fruit tasting events in schools, involvement of students in the gathering of apple harvests, exhibitions and fairs and distribution of informative brochures to children.

The Ministry of Finance is to propose amendments to the state budget law for 2017 and relevant provisions that will be included in the 2018 state budget law.