Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 2.10.2006

ACH asks for maximal direct payments next year otherwise prepares protest

Agrarian Chamber is decided for a big protest action in Prague unless in 14 days will successfully negotiate with government representatives and parliamentary parties maximal direct payments for farmers in 2007. ČTK was told it by the president of Agrarian Chamber Jan Veleba after the today’s negotiation of organization staff of ACH. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture lacks almost two billion crowns for maximal evening up of direct payments next year. However, the Ministress Milena Vicenová said to journalists today that she would look for new resources. Therefore she does not consider possible protests of farmers as a lucky way. According to Veleba the Chamber is alarmed at the variance between the government program declaration, which speaks about evening up of direct payments, and the Ministerial budget proposal for next year, in which a part of necessary money is missing.

Proposal of transformation of farmer and forestry fund will be prepared by two months

Hugo Roldán from the Department of Communication, the Ministry of Agriculture, reported that the Ministry would put forward a proposal of Subsidiary and Guarantee Agricultural and Forestry Fund (PGRLF) by end of November. Originally it should do it till the end of September, however, the term was postponed. The task to put forward of the Fund change was ordered to the Ministry by the government in February when it dealt with objections of the Supreme Control Office towards PGRLF. The Control Office reported that the Fund established at the beginning of 90’s as a join-stock company could not according to the law allot state support.

Food-producers: EC sets rules disadvantaging newcomers

In many cases the European Commission sets rules disadvantaging new member states. Jaroslav Camplík, the President of Food-Industry Chamber reported it at the meeting with journalists today. Food producers don’t like that since 2007 the Commission has introduced in some endowments small and middle businesses as exclusive receivers. They criticize also that they have already strived for a support of marketing on markets outside the EU for two years in vain. Moreover, information appeared that Brussels wants to reduce the possibility to support promotion of foods from public resources which would concern the mark of quality foods KLASA.

Support of BIO similar to KLASA

During the year 2007 a new campaign should be started off which will promote the mark BIO in similar way as in the mark KLASA. In 2005 turnover of bio-foods reached 350 million crowns in the CR which is 30% increase in comparison with the year 2004. However, only 3 % of consumers buy bio-products regularly. Both the state and producers try to change the face of affairs, not only by the action September – month of bio-foods. According to a study by the agency Green marketing which concentrates on monitoring of bio-food market, most producers and businessmen expect that a turnover in retail sale of bio-food will grow in average by other 30 % in 2006.