Agricultural news week 12

Poland wins with the EC before the Court of Justice on the tax on retail sales

The Polish tax on retail sales does not violate EU law in the field of state aid- says the Court of Justice of the EU. The Court dismissed the appeal of the European Commission in this case and upheld the previous judgment of the EU General Court.

The European Commission recognized that the tax is progressive and constitutes state aid that is inconsistent with EU law. In the judgment of 16 May 2019, the Court of the European Union, to which Poland lodged a complaint, stated that the Commission was wrong.

On September 1, 2016, Poland introduced a tax on retail sales. The tax base was the monthly income obtained by all retailers of goods in the amount exceeding PLN 17 million. The tax covered two ranges:

• 0.8% rate applicable to revenues from 17 mln pln

• 1.4% to revenues that excess 170 mln pln.

However, it caused a dispute with the European Commission and the introduction of the tax was postponed till December 31, 2019. In mid-May, Poland won a case against the European Commission in the European Union Court regarding this retail tax but the Commission appealed against this decision and Poland will have to wait several months for the ruling of the EU Court of Justice in this case.

Source: Portal Spożywczy, Polityka

Avian Influenza concentrates in Wielkopolska Region

The Żuromin commune in Wielkopolska Region (West Poland) is called the Polish "poultry basin". It is here that the most places of laying hens and chicken broilers are located. On March 23, late in the evening, the media informed about an outbreak of bird flu in a complex of 8 farms located in the Żuromin commune. 400,000 laying hens are kept here. It is estimated that there are 100 million places for poultry in this area. If avian influenza does spread, the operation to dispose of that large number of birds can be very difficult.

Below we show a map with the all HPAI outbreaks in Poland, updated as of 24/03/2021 sourced from portal hodowcydrobiu.

Source: Portal Hodowcy

New Covid-19 restrictions in Poland

With the numbers of new infections rising to record heights in Poland last days, the government decided to impose new restrictions for the period 27 March – 9 April.

From Saturday, March 27th, on top of all the existing restrictions:

• furniture and DIY shops of over 2.000 sq m will be closed;
• smaller number of clients will be allowed into shops etc.; shop smaller than 100 sq m – 1 person/15 sq m; shop bigger than 100 sq m – 1 person/ 20 sq m;
• in churches only 1 person/20 sq m will be allowed inside;
• hairdressers’ and beauty salons will be closed;
• nurseries and kindergartens will be closed, except for children of medics and state services;

The authorities urge everybody to work from home and to spend Easter only with members of their own household.

If the situation does not improve, more restrictions cannot be excluded.