The Sejm adopted a Senate amendment to the Agricultural Fund Act, establishing a second annual application window for producer compensation.
Second Application Window for Producer Compensation Established
The Sejm approved the Senate’s amendment to the Act on the Agricultural Fund, allowing producers who haven’t received payment for agricultural products to apply for compensation twice annually. Previously, applications were limited to once per year.
Vote Outcome and Support
The amendment passed with 430 votes in favor, no votes against, and 6 abstentions. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Sejm’s agriculture committee both supported the proposal.
Legislative Concerns Raised
The legislative bureau raised concerns that the amendment extends beyond the scope of the amended Act and wasn’t previously considered by the Sejm.
Senate Justification for Amendment
Senator Ryszard Bober, Chairman of the Senate’s agriculture committee, acknowledged the amendment’s scope exceeded the original legislation but argued it would expedite funding from the FOR and improve the financial liquidity of farms.
Prior Act Amendment and Compensation Limits
In mid-March, the Sejm unanimously amended the Act on the Agricultural Fund, setting a compensation limit of €300,000 over three years for producer groups not paid by purchasers, aligning with de minimis aid ceilings.
Previous Compensation Maximums
Previously, the maximum compensation for farmers was equivalent to €50,000, the de minimis aid ceiling for primary agricultural producers. This limit applied to both individual farmers and producer groups.
Rationale for Increased Limit for Groups
The authors of the project argued that the previous limit was insufficient for producer groups.
Definition of Producer Groups
Producer groups include organizations, associations, production cooperatives, and industry federations.
Next Steps: Presidential Signature
The Act will now be submitted to the President for signature.