News

The new EU Animal Health Act entered into force on 21/04/2021, with the aim of improving the EU's defence against the spread of animal diseases. The animal health sector has now started to focus on vaccination, for example poultry can now be vaccinated against salmonella. Separate regulations on veterinary medicinal products and medicinal feeding stuffs will not enter into force until 2022.

On 23/04/2021, the European Commission adopted new rules for the activities and operational programs of producer organizations in the fruit and vegetables sector with a view to simplifying the CAP and moving from the old to the new CAP rules. Member States will now be able to extend their national strategies for the fruit and vegetable sector to ensure a smooth transition between current and new rules once the new CAP enters into force. New rules include, for example, extending outsourcing opportunities for producer organizations in the fruit and vegetable sector; extending the use of standard flat rates or lump sums to all costs supported under operational programs for the fruit and vegetables sector, with the exception of crisis measures; simplification of the rules for withdrawing fruit and vegetables from the market for free distribution; the introduction of a maximum amount of withdrawal aid for processing; or simplification of rules on crisis prevention and resolution measures (e.g. harvest insurance).
More information is available here here and here.

On 13/04/2021, Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet approved the national strategic plans for the CAP, for a total of three acts - Direct Payments, Cross-compliance, and the Administration and Control System. The first reading within the German Bundestag should take place at the beginning of the coming week, the second and third readings are expected at the beginning of June. The Federal Council (Bundesrat) should discuss the plans in the first round on 28/05/2021, and then decide on 25/06/2021.
More information is available here.

On 08/04/2021, the European Commission published an impact assessment of the Common Agricultural Policy on generational renewal, local development, and jobs in rural areas. The study confirmed that the population of European farmers in rural areas is aging. Although the impact of the CAP on generational renewal is mostly positive, it remains limited, especially in regions without basic infrastructure and services. According to the study, CAP support may demotivate farmers to transfer farms from the older to the younger generation, as older farmers compensate for very low pensions from CAP support. The conclusions of the impact assessment recommend more targeted funding and support, training, and investment in infrastructure.
More information is available here.

The European Commission has confirmed that it will present the final text of the delegated act on sustainable financing, the so-called taxonomy, on 21/04/2021. However, some topics will not be included in this first delegated act; the European Commission has already decided to draw up a separate document for fossil fuels, as well as for nuclear energy. According to unconfirmed information, a similar approach could apply to agricultural issues, which the European Commission included in the first draft delegated act (December 2020), but in the updated version (March 2021) most references to agriculture are already missing.