Farmers warn that they will resume protests if the authorities do not announce an official position on the proposal to increase the VAT rate for agricultural production from 8% to 20% by the end of this week. The Farmers’ Force Association maintains that the deadline given to the Government for a decision has expired, and farmers are waiting for a clear response, reports IPN.
The executive director of the association, Alexandru Slusari, stated that the protests on June 24 and 25 were suspended on the condition that, by June 30 at the latest, the authorities would make their position on the VAT quota in agriculture public. According to him, so far, the farmers have not received an official response from the decision-makers.
Alexandru Slusari stated that, during discussions with the Parliament’s president, representatives of the “Farmers’ Force” association and some deputies of the ruling party presented arguments in favor of maintaining the VAT rate of 8% for agricultural production. Previously, at a meeting organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, all associations in the agri-food sector spoke out against raising the rate to 20%.
According to the association, public statements regarding the resumption of consultations on fiscal-budgetary policy are not sufficient. Farmers demand an official position from the Government and warn that a VAT increase would put additional pressure on agricultural producers, especially on micro, small and medium-sized farmers.
Alexandru Slusari stated that, although the harvesting process has already begun, farmers from several districts reserve the right to resume massive protests in various forms, if the authorities do not come up with a solution.
