Over 11 million BGN will be distributed among 75 projects under Measure 121: Modernisation of agricultural holdings. Fifteen of the candidates are organic farmers who will use the subsidies to purchase equipment. They will create several orchards with irrigation systems and fences. The farmers will also grow oil-yielding rose and lavender. One of the candidates will invest in growing organic...
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It is necessary that a national consensus on the priorities in agriculture is achieved in a wide debate beyond the format of executive power and parliament only. This was made clear by the Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture and Foods Dr. Miroslav Naydenov at the Council meeting for regional development and national infrastructure at the President Rosen Plevneliev. The theme of the Council was...
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A European Commission report published today shows that thanks to the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) many food safety risks have been averted or mitigated and safety controls ensure our food is safe. RASFF plays a key role in ensuring safety from "farm to fork", by triggering a rapid reaction when a food safety risk is detected. All members of the RASFF system are swiftly...
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The application period under Measure 121: Modernisation of agricultural holdings is from July 30th to August 24th. The total budget for this period is 215 383 016 euro, which includes 141 669 548 euro that were additionally transferred to the measure because of farmers’ big interest in it. Candidates can submit projects for several investment categories with guaranteed budgets. The...
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The minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Miroslav Naydenov urged the funding from the European Union for emergency measures, applied to animal diseases from member states that are external borders, to be increased from 50% to 70% when the disease spreads from third countries. He also insisted on funding the spending to combat the foot-and-mouth disease in particular to increase to 80% instead...
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Environmental organisations that fear the European Parliament and national governments are weakening agricultural reforms have found unwavering support from the EU's farm chief Dacian Cioloş. The conservationists appear to have support in the EU executive, where Cioloş said his proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) could have positive economic impact now as well as for the...
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As a result of negotiations conducted between the United States and the European Union, within the limits of the World Trade Organization, an agreement was reached that Bulgaria and Romania will become part of the import quota of European cheese in the USA. This quota allows the imports of cheese under the code 0406 of the Combined Nomenclature (CN) of the USA at a reduced import duty. For...
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The Council of European union adopted a set of amendments to Regulation 73/2009 concerning the application of direct payments to farmers in the year 2013 following a first reading agreement with the European Parliament. This regulation (the "2013" regulation) is one of two transitional regulations to be adopted this year ahead of the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform which is...
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The information campaign “CAP:re:turn to the future” is pleased to announce a video/photo competition “RE:TURN TO THE FUTURE – AGRICULTURE” to celebrate this European policy’s 50th anniversary. Photographers and video artists from four countries – Bulgaria, Portugal, Estonia and Malta, are going to have the chance to illustrate rural beauty in their...
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The European Commission needs to be more ambitious in its actions. The report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 as regards the application of direct payments to farmers in respect of the year 2013, on which the Bulgarian MEP Mariya Gabriel is a rapporteur for EPP, was discussed during the plenary...
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Consumers who are willing to pay extra for organic fruits, vegetables and other goods may not always get what they are hoped for due to lax oversight in some EU countries. That is the conclusion of the European Court of Auditors, which found that not all goods labelled ‘organic’ actually comply with strict rules on how they were grown or handled, reported EurActiv. In some...
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Investments are under Measure 313: Encouragement of tourism activities, part of the Programme for Development of Agricultural Regions. Four projects are going to be for establishing centers for exhibition of ethnographic heritage and the natural pride of municipalities Smyadovo, Alfatar, Nedelino, and Nevestino. The funds will secure traditional national-style costumes, 3-4 minute films...
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The two-year transition period for the organic food sector to comply with new EU labelling rules is reaching its end. As from 1 July 2012, the EU organic logo will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic food products produced in EU Member States which meet the necessary standards. The logo will stay optional for non-packed and imported organic products. Other private, regional or national...
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The Common Agricultural Policy is among the strongest EU policies by virtue of its impact not only on the farming community, but also on all citizens of the European Union”, stated Mrs. Svetlana Boyanova, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, at international conference „CAP: Past and Future”. The event took place on 26th-27th June 2012 in Sofia under the patronage of Mr....
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At the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, ministers adopted conclusions on the protection and welfare of animals. This is in line with Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which states that, animals being sentient beings, the EU and the member states must pay full regard to their protection. Ministers agreed that future work on the welfare of...
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