Peasants not registered as business entities will no longer receive any financial aid

Farmers who are not registered with the Trade Registry as sole traders, individual enterprises or as a family enterprise, will not receive financial aid from the state as of this year, according to Emergency Ordinance 44/2008.

“The ordinance is part of the government’s strategy to reduce tax evasion, as well as to introduce taxation in a major economic sector, considering that around 70% of this sector is yet untaxed. The Ministry of Agriculture applies the European Union policy, according to which no farmer that does not pay taxes can receive financial aid. Considering that the grace period ends on 25th of April 2010, the enforcement of this policy is compulsory,” said representatives of the ministry through the ministry’s press office. Agriculture contributes a little over 6% to the Gross Domestic Product, and the black market in the grain sector alone exceeds one billion euros, according to the authorities.