Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 17.3.2008

Land Fund will pass through transformation in five years

The Land Fund of the Czech Republic (PF) will have been transformed by the 31st of December 2012 in an organization unit of the state in operation of the Minister of Agriculture. It results from a government decree which was accepted at a Monday's negotiation by the Cabinet. A proposal of PF transformation principles was introduced to the government together by ministries of agriculture and finances. “An aim of these principles is to outline steps of the PF transformation so that a switch-over from its collective management to managerial management and his transformation would be prepared.”

Gluten-free Bread for Health was appreciated at international food fair Salima 2008

A gluten-free mixture for the Bread for Health won at the international food fair Salima 2008 in a project Trendy - GO SPECIAL! The gluten-free mixture for the Bread for Health, which was developed as the first gluten-free product in the Counseling Centre for Coeliac Disease and Gluten-free Diet, won at the international food fair Salima 2008 in a project Trendy - GO SPECIAL! In a competition organized in frame of the 2nd show of trendy foods TRENDY 2008 the best products in each from six categories were appreciated.

CR supported gradual increase of milk quotas

The CR supported an increase of milk quota in frame of so called soft-landing, a gradual liberalization of system. Starting with coming quota year 2008/2009 all member states will increase in gross their quotas by 2 % which according to expert's reports is a volume with which the Union/world market will cope without problems. “Liberalization in form of a gradual increase of milk quotas is one of solutions how to prepare a system for cancellation of quotas in 2015. At the same time it supports competitiveness and perspective of the sector”, the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič said.

Farmers will face double portion of checks. More than EU requires

Czech farmers can prepare themselves for almost double number of check points in keeping principles of right agricultural practice from the next year. They are worse off than their colleagues in EU countries because Brussels does not require such intensity. Check of keeping the principles of right management in frame of so called cross-compliance (concerning also the Czech Republic from 2009) were enforced by the European Commission at the beginning of this year's February. Till this time inspections took place too but only fines threatened to farmers. Next year they can loose also subsidies from the EU.