In brief

• The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared preliminary proposals for changes to the promotion funds for agri-food products and announces consultations with the industry.
• The ministry and part of the industry agree that the entire system will not be closed down, and that the changes are meant to concern the rules for spending money and controlling its results.
• MPs Czesław Hoc and Marek Gróbarczyk asked, in an interpellation, about expenditure on promotional events reaching almost PLN 700 thousand.
• It is not yet known when the draft regulations will go to consultation or from when the new rules could apply.

The ministry looks for a way to spend money better

The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared preliminary proposals for changes to the promotion funds. Stefan Krajewski spoke about them on 29 October during a meeting with journalists at the ministry building. According to him, the aim is to improve the effectiveness of spending, not to close the programme (Wokół funduszy promocji zrobiło się gorąco. Krajewski zapowiada zmiany, ale stawia granicę – tygodnik-rolniczy.pl) (Rewolucja w funduszach promocji? Minister ma projekt zmian i rusza z konsultacjami – wiescirolnicze.pl).

The details of the new solutions have not yet been published. The draft is to go to consultation with representatives of the industry, and the ministry announces a stronger assessment of the results of the financed activities.

The criticism concerns specific expenditure

The dispute concerns money spent on promotional events. In an interpellation to the minister, MPs Czesław Hoc and Marek Gróbarczyk asked about expenditure reaching almost PLN 700 thousand. Farmers are also drawing attention to the matter and want greater transparency in the financing of these activities (Prawie 700 tys. zł na promocję. Rolnicy krytykują wydatki – wp.pl). Journalists at farmer.pl noted that farmers expect explanations of how the allocated funds translate into sales of Polish food (Rolnicy krytykują wydatki, minister odpowiada. Fundusze promocji czeka reforma - Fakty – farmer.pl).

Representatives of the industry stress that the funds play an important role in promoting Polish food. Jacek Zarzecki, vice-chairman of the Polish Sustainable Beef Platform, believes that when planning the future of these funds, both the effects of expenditure and the needs of producers must be taken into account.

No liquidation

The ministry and part of the industry agree that the entire system will not be closed down, and that the changes are meant to concern the rules for spending money and controlling its results.

For now, it is not known when the draft regulations will go to consultation or from when the new rules could apply. Details of the proposals will appear in the ministry's communications.