Minister of Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev presented the legislative initiatives that his team is preparing to overcome the crisis in the sector, in response to the requests received from NGOs. This took place during an external meeting of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Forestry, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on Vatev's initiative.
There have been two agrarian chambers for a year now, and there are a number of other producer organisations. A working group has been set up and by the end of March it should be ready with the first texts it will propose.
A draft law on the ownership and use of agricultural land has gone through the consultative council on land relations, the texts have been drafted and given to the MPs for discussion. All the wishes have been taken into account - for priority use of pastures by the livestock farming site closest to the pasture, local farmers to receive land for livestock, fruit and vegetables with priority from the municipal land fund and only then put up for free auction.
A bill to amend the Food Act has been submitted for consultation. It regulates changes required by European regulation.
A draft law on support for farmers has been prepared for public consultation.
The Wine and Spirit Drinks Act: The envisaged changes aim at improving the legal regulation in terms of complexity to the control itself in both sectors, reducing the administrative burden and authorising the registration regime. The consultation document is up for public consultation until February 15.
The law on agricultural tenancy is of date, a draft bill is to be developed. It will be a key item of the land relations advisory board which will be held on Wednesday at 3pm.
Following consultations with experts from abroad, a bill is currently being drafted by one of the best experts on co-operative societies in Europe. He is Austrian and knows the Bulgarian co-operative law very well, so we are looking forward to his suggestions for changes to the existing law rather than making a new one, Minister Vatev said.
He considers the Agri-Food Supply Chain Rules Act the most important for absolutely everyone involved in the agri-food chain. It is brand new. It has gone through an NGO consultation and an inter-ministerial consultation, after which there have been many comments. The text and it will be released again for discussion on Monday.
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