Government decisions of May 3

An additional 7 million euros in support is being provided to milk producers. On May 3, the government supported the amendments prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture to the regulations that determine the procedure for granting European Union (EU) emergency adjustment support to milk producers. The changes to the regulations provide for supplementing the EU emergency adjustment support with additional support from the state budget in order to promote market stabilization and promote the economic sustainability of farms. The changes to the procedure for granting support provide for the granting of additional state support in the amount of EUR 7 million to Latvian milk producers in order to mitigate the significant reductions in income that producers have continuously faced since the imposition of the import embargo on August 7, 2014. The support from the state budget is provided taking into account that the previous EU and state emergency support measures only partially compensated for the decrease in income and milk producers experienced serious financial difficulties. It should also be noted that already now, after several months of increase, the decrease in milk purchase prices has resumed, and with the onset of the summer season, a further decrease in prices can be expected, which will again aggravate the financial situation of milk producers. Read more!

The requirement to keep poultry indoors has been abolished. On May 3, the government approved amendments to biosecurity measures for animal holdings. The amendments to the regulations move the poultry keeping restriction period from the previously set May 31 to May 3. The amendments also stipulate that poultry owners – who keep poultry for the production of eggs or meat for household consumption for their own needs or keep poultry for the production of hatching eggs for household needs – will no longer need to develop a biosecurity plan, as the operations of such households do not pose a high risk of the spread of infectious diseases. Read more!

Minor changes have been made to the requirements for egg circulation. The regulations are necessary because in Latvia, homestead farms are increasingly actively developing, where birds are raised and whose eggs are intended to be sold directly to the final consumer or retail companies on the local market. The species of birds whose eggs are used in food have also diversified, for example, quail. The regulations determine hygiene requirements for egg production and chicken (Gallus Gallus species of birds) for the supply of eggs in small quantities directly to the final consumer, as well as for the supply of eggs of other birds in small quantities to the final consumer or to a retail establishment directly supplying the final consumer. Read more!

Local action groups will be able to receive support for transnational and interterritorial cooperation. On May 3, the government supported the draft regulations prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, which determine the procedure for granting state and European Union (EU) support to local action groups (LAGs) for interterritorial and transnational cooperation. The support is intended to promote business development and employment opportunities in rural areas. The draft regulations provide for support for activities implemented by LAGs, the aim of which is to, through cooperation at the national and transnational level, adopt experience, develop new approaches and seek innovative solutions to existing situations, thus promoting business development and employment opportunities in their territory of operation. Read more!

Source: Ministry of Agriculture