The Polish Sejm voted to increase state subsidies to agricultural producers

By: STA Date: 2023. 05. 10. 10:30

On Tuesday night, the Polish Sejm (lower house) voted on the amendments to the law, which increase state support for Polish farmers disadvantaged by the import of Ukrainian agricultural products.

(Photo: Pixabay)

The drafts will now go before the Senate (upper house). According to one of the amendments, the amount refunded to farmers from the excise duty on diesel oil would be increased by 0.26 zlotys (21.2 forints) to 1.46 zlotys (119 forints) per liter. In addition, at the end of April, the Polish government requested the approval of the European Commission in order to increase the subsidy for diesel oil per liter for agricultural producers by 0.54 zlotys (44.3 forints) in addition to the legal discount.

The representatives also voted on the law on the establishment of the agricultural protection fund

From this, compensation would be paid to those farmers who sold their crops to a buyer who became insolvent. The fund is created from the taxes of larger companies that purchase greyhound products. Pursuant to other approved legislation, farmers can take out loans for the purchase of fertilizers and plant protection agents, and the official licensing of buildings intended for agricultural use, including silos, is simplified for them. The new regulations are part of a package of several laws and regulations adopted by the Polish government at the end of April. Pursuant to this, among other things, additional support is paid to the purchase price of cereals. The aim of the subsidy is for farmers to empty their warehouses before the summer harvest.

Ukrainian agricultural products are causing problems for five countries

At the end of April, at the initiative of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania, the European Commission adopted measures regarding the EU import of agricultural products from Ukraine. Pursuant to this, the import duty on wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds delivered from Ukraine will be reinstated in the five EU member states neighboring Ukraine until June 5. However, transit of products is still possible. In Poland, even after the introduction of EU restrictions, a unilateral import ban on a number of other Ukrainian agricultural products, including poultry, eggs and dairy products, remained in place.

MTI