MAPA has prepared an information note on the application of the Royal Decree on the state of alarm in the livestock, agricultural and fishing sectors. In general, the main doubts that are clarified refer to aspects such as the opening of retail trade for the sale of supplies for these sectors, as well as the suspension of deadlines in administrative procedures.
As clarified by the ministry, Royal Decree 463/2020, as well as its amendment also published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), for the management of the situation caused by COVID-19, establishes that the competent delegated authorities will adopt the measures necessary to guarantee the food supply.
Agricultural, livestock and aquaculture production, as well as fishing activity, transformation of agricultural and fishery products, veterinary centers or clinics, transport and distribution of food, as well as its commercialization through retail sales to consumers, form the food supply chain whose activity must be guaranteed in the state of alarm. This implies that the activity of agri-food companies as a whole, including agricultural, livestock, aquaculture and fishing activities, must be maintained, but also that of the companies that, in turn, supply them with the necessary inputs for their operation.
In the case of farmers, ranchers, aquaculturists and fishermen, they must be able to continue carrying out the necessary tasks to guarantee the maintenance of activity. In any case, in order to prevent and contain the spread of the virus, the tasks whose performance is not essential to carry out during the duration of the alarm state period, should be limited or suspended, such as accessory maintenance tasks.
Opening of the retail trade for the sale of inputs for agriculture, livestock and fishing
The agricultural, livestock, aquaculture or fishing activity requires the use of inputs for its proper performance, such as the use of fertilizers, phytosanitary products, seeds and seedlings, veterinary products, feed, salt, ice, accoutrements, etc. For this, the activity of the retail trade that supplies this type of inputs has continuity, since they are essential activities to ensure primary production and, with it, the food supply to citizens. Sometimes this retail trade is provided by the agricultural cooperatives themselves, fishermen’s guilds, fish markets or ports, which must be able to continue providing this service.
Suspension of deadlines in administrative procedures related to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the fishing sector
In general, the entry into force of Royal Decree 463/2020, involves the interruption of all deadlines for processing administrative procedures related to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the fishing sector.
