Last week, the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture announced a change. This change was supposed to take effect on July 1. The change concerns the production volumes of small vegetables, mushrooms, and sprouts.
The announcement caused a lot of confusion. Farmers did not understand how the change would increase their income. There was also discussion about how to set the limits for open fields and greenhouses. Questions were also raised about whether produce can be sold to family members and neighbors without control.
On Tuesday, Minister Hendrik Johannes Terras decided to change the regulation. The new regulation will review the limits for small products and their implementation.
Currently, a small quantity is considered to be produce from up to 0.5 hectares of open field or up to 100 square meters of greenhouse. For sprouted seeds, sprouts, and mushrooms, the limit is 3000 kilograms per year.
If a producer exceeds the limit, they must submit a notice to the Agricultural Board. This does not affect cultivation for personal use. Registration is only required for cultivation intended for sale.
Minister Terras decided that the current solution must be evaluated from four aspects: legal basis, justification of limits, impact on small producers, and the use of state data.
EU rules require member states to establish their own rules for small products. Estonia chose limits of 0.5 hectares and 100 square meters. These limits must now be re-evaluated.
The minister tasked the preparation of an overview of the regulation's development. The overview must explain how the limits were chosen and what their impact is on small producers.
Before the new regulation is implemented, it must be clarified what data the state already has. If a producer has already submitted data, they should not be burdened with new requirements without reason.
The Agricultural Board must prepare clear guidelines distinguishing cultivation for personal use, small-scale sales, and larger production. The guidelines must be simple and understandable.
Until the new regulation is ready, the Agricultural Board will help producers overcome confusion. The minister demands that producers should not have to fulfill new requirements without clarity on why they are needed.
The ministry invites the Agricultural Board, PRIA, and farmers' organizations to participate in amending the regulation. The new rules will be published after additional analyses.