The Regional Government of Andalusia calls for a 100% tax rebate for beekeeping, severely affected by the drought.

The Regional Government of Andalusia calls for a 100% tax rebate for beekeeping, severely affected by the drought
The Beekeeping Sector Roundtable calls for a change in the labelling of honey to clarify its origin and to implement ‘Measure 23’.

This week, the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development hosted the meeting of the Andalusian Beekeeping Sector Round Table, made up of representatives of the Andalusian Government and the agricultural sector of the Autonomous Community. In this respect, the Regional Minister Carmen Crespo pointed out that «this forum for dialogue is essential to work side by side with the sector and thus help producers with agreed measures that really respond to their interests and needs».

Specifically, members of the Regulatory Council of the Protected Designation of Origin ‘Miel de Granada’, the Malaga Beekeepers’ Association, UPA, COAG and Sierras Andaluzas SCA took part in the meeting of the Andalusian Beekeeping Sector Round Table. On behalf of the Junta, the meeting was attended, among others, by the Secretary General of Agriculture, Livestock and Food, Consolación Vera; the Director General of Agricultural and Livestock Production, Manuel Gómez; the Directors General of Direct Aid and Markets, Raquel Espín; and of Industries, Innovation and Agri-Food Chain, Cristina de Toro; and the President of the Ifapa, Marta Bosquet.

Among the main concerns conveyed by the representatives of Andalusian beekeeping to the regional administration is the competition they are suffering from other production areas. «From the Junta we will continue to defend the necessary changes in the labelling of honey to ensure that consumers can easily know the origin of all the honey they are buying,» said Carmen Crespo.

In addition, the support that the regional government has been offering Andalusian beekeepers is also reflected in other measures such as the tax reduction requested from the State. Specifically, the report from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture calls for a 100% reduction in the IRPF module for beekeeping. The aim is, as Crespo pointed out, «to try to compensate, even if only in part, the exceptional expenses and complications suffered in 2022 by a sector severely affected by the drought that Spain in general, and the southern territories in particular, are experiencing».

Other actions carried out by the Junta that will benefit the sector are, for example, the processing in 2022 of around 3.5 million euros in aid for around 391,000 beehives; and the adaptation of the application periods for subsidies to the operating calendar of beekeeping farms in order to avoid harm to beekeepers and reduce incidents.

Likewise, as Carmen Crespo pointed out, «the budget earmarked for supporting initiatives aimed at improving the quality of beekeeping products has been increased fivefold». Specifically, the amount managed by the Board has risen from 30,000 euros to 150,000 euros.

Measure 23 and Pepac

This week, the Mesa del Sector Apícola has also discussed the importance of having ‘Measure 23’ of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) that the Junta has requested from the State, which is responsible for interceding with Brussels for its approval. The Regional Minister stressed that «this line of aid is vital for producers to cope with the effects of low rainfall and, for this reason, we will not cease in our efforts to put it at their service as soon as possible».

Furthermore, the Regional Ministry of Agriculture also stressed at this meeting that the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (Pepac) includes, at the initiative of Andalusia, agri-environmental aid for beekeeping for biodiversity with the same support that these producers have been receiving in previous frameworks. This continuity in economic resources is particularly important because, as Carmen Crespo lamented, «the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) represents a generalised cut in the funds that our farmers and stockbreeders have been receiving in previous years».

 

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