Law No. IX-987 on development of agriculture and rural area.

This Law establishes basic principles of the formation and realization of agriculture and rural area development policy. Agricultural Risk Management Fund is voluntary for agricultural operators and it shall be intended a system of mutual assistance based on members' contributions to maintain their level of income. In order to strengthen the bargaining power of agricultural entities selling raw milk and increase the transparency of the milk market, the State Enterprise Agricultural Information and Rural Business Center has the right to purchase and/or process raw milk from undertakings registered in accordance with the procedure established by law to collect and publish information on the average raw milk purchase prices per calendar month for each raw milk purchaser, distinguishing them according to the raw milk delivery method (raw milk is delivered to the raw milk purchase point, raw milk is taken directly from the ground, raw milk is delivered directly to the raw milk processing plant) and/or according to the quantity of raw milk purchased from the agricultural entity. The Act consists of seven Chapters divided into 32 Articles: (1) general provisions; (2) agriculture and rural area development policy; (3) management of agriculture; (4) trends of agricultural support; (5) agricultural subsidies; (6) agricultural statistics and information systems; and (7) conclusive provisions. The purposes of agricultural development shall be: (a) creation of market-oriented, competitive agricultural sector; (b) supply of a wide range of safe and high quality agricultural commodities and foodstuffs; (c) promotion of export; (d) maximum provision of the population with foodstuffs of the national origin; (e) sustainable development of the national food processing industry; and (f) sustainable use of natural resources environmental and forest protection with the use of agrarian means. The state executive bodies and local self-government shall be authorized to supervise and control the following spheres: (a) support of agricultural and rural development; (b) food and agricultural commodities safety; (c) certification of ecological production; (d) seed growing; (e) application of veterinary requirements; (f) pedigree stock breeding, poultry breeding, fur farming and fish farming; (g) manufacturing of animal feed; and (h) rational land use.