Law 4859/2021. Measures to facilitate and modernise the establishment and operation of livestock facilities, provisions for carrying out checks and imposing penalties and other emergency regulations.

This Law aims at simplifying the establishment and operation of livestock facilities, in order to address the modern challenges affecting livestock production, and to improve the procedures for carrying out controls, imposing penalties and granting compensation in matters of competence of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and of the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization. Concerning livestock facilities, the Law defines the following terms: livestock establishment, including the drainage, waste treatment and biological cleaning systems, transport and water supply facilities, pig and poultry establishment; temporary animal shelters; livestock facilities for intensive breeding; equivalent animal unit; operator of livestock; modernisation of activity.
Matters covered by this Law include: reduction of minimum distances of livestock facilities; specific provisions in case of wild animals, game farms, animals subject of controlled hunting, imported or domestic species; processing of animal products, such as milk and meat products, eggs and poultry products, animal by-products; distances of livestock facilities from protected areas; administrative sanctions; control and inspection. The Law defines specific powers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, including: extension of the deadline for preparation, submission and approval of grazing land management plans; granting of a fishing license for defined aquatic species; granting compensations of the Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organization; employment of land workers from third countries; demarcation of agricultural holdings; temporary State aid measure for businesses with large financial losses in areas affected by natural disasters; emergency financial assistance to racehorse owners, trainers and jockeys.