Both schemes have been re-notified until the end of 2029.
Pig farmers and poultry farmers will receive a total of BGN 84,000,000 in 2024 under the welfare schemes, the Management Board of the State Fund for Agriculture decided at its meeting today. The approved financial resource under the scheme “Assistance for the implementation of voluntarily undertaken commitments for humane treatment of pigs” and “Assistance for the implementation of voluntarily undertaken commitments for humane treatment of birds” is in the amount of BGN 42 million.
The state aid scheme “Assistance for the implementation of voluntarily undertaken commitments for the humane treatment of pigs” has a term of application from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2029, having been approved and registered under number SA.109693 in the Register of State aid of the European Commission. The maximum budget under the scheme for the entire period of application is in the amount of BGN 250,471,791, and the amount of aid for each year is determined by a decision of the Board of Directors of the DFZ.
The following measures are included in the scope of the scheme:
- Measure A – Provision of a free floor area not less than 10% above the mandatory standard;
- Measure B – Provision of artificial light for 11 hours;
- Measure C – Use of feed containing no more than 2.5 mg/kg of deoxynivalenol.
The state aid scheme “Assistance for the implementation of voluntarily undertaken commitments for the humane treatment of birds” is registered under number SA.109688 in the Register of State Aids of the European Commission and has a term of application from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2029 The maximum budget under the scheme for the entire period of application is in the amount of BGN 241,939,336, and the amount of aid for each year is determined by a decision of the Board of Directors of the DFZ.
The following measures are included in the scope of the aid:
- Measure A. Use of feed containing deoxynivalenol not more than 2.5 mg/kg.
- Measure B. Provision of a free floor area not less than 10% above the mandatory standard.
- Measure C. Improvement of the conditions for the humane treatment of birds during transport (only for deliveries to the slaughterhouse).
- Measure D. Reduction of ammonia emissions by 30% (guarantee ammonia concentration (NH3 up to 14 ppm), by adding silicate minerals to the litter (perlite, aluminosilicates – kaolin, bentonite, zeolite /clinoptilolite/ etc.)
The state aid schemes have an increased budget for the new support period, as this has been agreed with the branch organizations and the inflation processes in recent years have been taken into account.
Voluntary pig and poultry welfare commitments are aimed at meeting the growing demands of consumers regarding food quality and safety, animal protection and nature and biodiversity conservation. Through the application of the aid, the improvement of biosecurity in farms and the provision of a good health status of pigs and poultry are achieved.
Aid under both schemes is granted to a holding to cover additional costs or foregone income linked to the implementation of voluntary animal welfare commitments made for at least 5 years.
Pursuant to the agreement reached with the industry regarding the servicing of the loans provided by the Agriculture Fund in 2008-2010, repayment of part of the amounts due in the amount of 20% of the amount of the obligation will be carried out by deduction from the assistance provided under the schemes for humane treatment.
The State Fund “Agriculture”, together with the competent directorates in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the BFSA, will prepare guidelines for the implementation of the schemes.
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