At the sitting held on 24 March, the Agriculture Committee discussed the Animal Welfare Bill, submitted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management 2009 Work Plan; 2009 Program of Allocation and Use of Subsidy System in the fields of agriculture, forestry and water management; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Veterinary Directorate Report on the realisation and effects of the implementation of the Program of animal health protection measures in the Republic of Serbia in 2008, with a memo from the Veterinary Chamber of Serbia and the Request of the Association of Tobacco Producers of the Republic of Serbia forwarded to the Agriculture Committee on 9 March 2009.

The Sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Zoran Masic, and attended by Sasa Dragin, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and associates, Zoran Micovic, head of the Veterinary Directorate; representatives of the Institute of Veterinary Science from Novi Sad and Belgrade; Veterinary Chamber of Serbia and Association of Tobacco Producers of Serbia.

The Animal Welfare Bill was outlined for the Committee members by Minister Dragin and the head of the Veterinary Directorate. It was stressed that the Bill is a crucial step forward for Serbia and that the experience of European countries was used in its preparation. Minister Dragin emphasized the Ministry’s readiness to accept any useful amendment to the Bill. After the discussion, the Committee members unanimously accepted the Animal Welfare Bill in principle.

Minister Dragin also presented the Ministry’s 2009 Work Program and 2009 Program of Allocation and Use of Subsidy System in the fields of agriculture, forestry and water management. He pointed out that agricultural regulations make up 40% of the legislation that Serbia is supposed to adopt on its way to the EU. 20 new laws and more than 150 ordnances regulating this field have been prepared for 2009. The Ministry owes 2.5 billion dinars on 2008 subsidies, and 90% of the total 2009 funds is allocated to agricultural subsidies. Following a lengthy discussion, the Committee members unanimously adopted the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management 2009 Work Plan and 2009 Program of Allocation and Use of Subsidy System in the fields of agriculture, forestry and water management. The Committee also concluded that the Ministry is obligated to settle its 2008 debts to agricultural producers and that the Ministry shall strive to increase the subsidy funds by the budget rebalance.

Debating the fourth item on the agenda, the head of the Veterinary Directorate Zoran Micovic presented the positive effects of the implementation of the Program of animal health protection measures. He stressed that pig plague and other communicable diseases have been suppressed, and that the lack of funds and unsettled debts to veterinarians are still the main problems. The representatives of the Veterinary Chamber of Serbia stated their demands concerning the outstanding debts for veterinary services in 2008 and requested the Committee’s support for an urgent realisation of this year’s Protection Measures Program. The Committee members unanimously accepted the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management – Veterinary Directorate Report on the realisation and effects of the implementation of the Program of animal health protection measures in the Republic of Serbia in 2008 and concluded that the Ministry is obligated to settle its debt to the veterinarians by the end of March 2009, to commence the realisation of this year’s Program as soon as possible, with technical corrections; to call tender for allocation of assignments to veterinary stations and conclude contracts on the realisation of measures in 2009.

The Committee members also considered the Request of the Association of Tobacco Producers of Serbia, forwarded to the Agriculture Committee on 9 March 2009. The representatives of the Ministry and Association of Tobacco Producers stated their opinions regarding the issue of subsidising tobacco production in Serbia, and the Committee concluded that it supports the realisation of the agreement reached between the Ministry and the Association; that it accepts the Ministry’s ordnances for subsidising tobacco production and proposes the continuation of talks on the formation of a support fund for tobacco leaf producers.

The Committee sitting was held in Andrevlje near Beocin.