Efecto de acolchados sobre el suelo y en la producción de cultivos

So far the Polish Parliament of the present term of office has adopted nine laws on agricul- ture (inter alia on the organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables, sprits drinks, the Law amending the veterinary law, the Law on animal protection, the Law on the market in milk and milk products, the Law establishing AMA and ARMA). The Parliament is cur- rently debating four draft laws. Legislative activities are carried out in MARD to develop 14 draft Laws. At the same time implementing regulations to the published laws are issued and those to the draft laws are under preparation. These are chiefly laws and regulations brining Polish legislation into line with that of the EU. Main laws relate to veterinary is- sues (including regulations on Veterinary Inspection, organisation of breeding and reproduction of farm animals, control of animal infectious diseases, animal feedingstuffs), operation of particular agricultural markets, changes in the functioning of institutions which are to perform the role of paying agencies after accession to the EU as well as plant protection and seeds.

A draft Law on the agrarian structure was developed. It is aimed at improving private farms' agrarian structure by regulating land sale and lease on more favourable financing

conditions for farmers who enlarge their farms up to a certain size. It provides for detailed conditions for land acquisition (similar to those existing in many EU member states) such as agricultural qualifications, running a farm in person etc. It also envisages a 5% reduction in the first instalment of payment for the purchased land and the spread of the remaining instalment repayment within 25 years. It is assumed that it will contribute to a significant boost in demand for agricultural property and to fast land management. The draft Law on the agrarian structure was adopted by the Council of Ministers and will be submitted to the Parliament.

Amendment of the Law on the sugar market. On 24 August 2002 the Law of 18 July

amending the sugar market regulation entered into force. The amendment provides for the establishment of a strong sugar market company controlled by employees and sugar beet growers, Polski Cukier S.A. In addition, the following drafts were elaborated:

- The rules for applying subsidies to exports of white sugar B and isoglucose B;

- The rules for granting subsidies to sugar processing for non-human consumption purposes,

The rules for intervention purchases of white sugar.

The Law of 14 December 2001 amending the law on veterinary surgeon profession and veterinary chambers, the law on control animal infectious diseases, examination of slaugh- ter animals and meat and on the Veterinary Inspection and the law on the organisation of breeding and reproduction of farm animals.

The Law of 17 December amending the law on the market in milk and milk products.

In connection with the entry into force of this Law on 31 December 2001, the date from which payments to "Extra" grade milk will be made was deferred from 1 January 2002 to 1 October 2002.

The Law of 25 July 2001 on the manufacture and bottling of winery products and trade in these products. On 10 November 2002 this Law will enter into force. It provides

for the breakdown of winery products into fermented winery beverages, flavoured winery beverages and grape wine products. It specifies the rules of their manufacture and eco- nomic activities with regard to their manufacture and bottling. The Law requires that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development should define, by way of regulations the further breakdown, requirements and rules of winery products manufacture.

The Law of 13 September 2002 on spirits drinks. On 7 April 2003 this Law will enter

into force. It implements EU legislation concerning spirits drinks. It requires that the Min- ister competent for agricultural markets should specify, by way of an implementing regulation, the method of agricultural ethyl alcohol analysis and the sampling method for the purposes of official control with the view to the marketable quality.

On 25 August 2002 the amended Law establishing AMA entered into force. It en- ables the government to adopt the food aid programme. Such programme envisages that the Agency will transfer gratuitously or partly against payment agricultural and food prod- ucts to fulfil, in particular, the needs of social welfare institutions, hospitals, schools and education facilities, military units, prisons and non-governmental organisations performing tasks related to social welfare and providing humanitarian aid.

The draft law on the organisation of liquid bio-fuels market and eco-components for the manufacture thereof was elaborated and submitted to the Parliament on 24 July 2002.

The anticipated development of liquid bio-fuels market will require, as an ultimate goal, the annual eco-component production of 800 000 tonnes of rapeseed oil methyl ester and 260 000 tonnes of bio-ethanol. Introduction of the arrangements proposed in the Law and the output at the planned level will contribute to the creation of new jobs (ca. 100 000), re- duction of unemployment in rural areas, stimulation and development of entrepreneurship, management of fallow land and in consequence to an increase in agricultural production and farmers' incomes. Moreover, it will have impact on the improvement of environmental protection and Poland's energy security.

6.8.2 Other1

At present the draft operational programme Restructuring and Modernisation of the Food

Sector and Rural Development is under elaboration by MARD. Following Poland's acces-

sion to the EU, it will be financed from the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). Independently of the aforementioned programme which will be part of the National Development Plan, the Rural Development Plan will be developed. It will concern the CAP accompanying measures: agri-environmental measures, early retirement and aid for less favoured areas (LFA) and will be financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Section.