TAIEX Workshop on Agricultural Advisory Services in the EU Kiev, Ukraine February 2016 Peculiarities of legal regulation of the advisory service in EU Member States Emanuela Dimitrova National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS), Bulgaria

Article 12 of Council Regulation №1306/ Farm advisory system Every Member State shall establish a system for advising farmers on land and farm management (Farm advisory system); Farm advisory system shall be operated by designated public bodies and/or selected private bodies

OBLIGATORY SCOPE OF THE FAS Obligations at farm level resulting from the statutory management requirements and the standards for good agricultural and environmental condition (cross compliance); Agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment; Measures at farm level provided for in rural development programmes for farm modernisation, competitiveness building, sectoral integration, innovation and market orientation, as well as for the promotion of entrepreneurship Requirements in the field of water policy (Water Framework Directive) The sustainable use of pesticide (integrated plant production, integrated pest management, plant protection activities);

Article 13 of Council Regulation № 1306/ Farm advisory system The farm advisory system shall ensure that beneficiaries have access to advice reflecting the specific situation of their holding; Member States shall ensure that advisors working within the farm advisory system are suitably qualified and regularly trained; The national authority shall provide, primarily by electronic means, the potential beneficiary with the appropriate list of selected and designated bodies; Beneficiaries and farmers may use the farm advisory system on a voluntary basis; Member States shall ensure the separation between advice and checks; Member States shall ensure that the designated authorities and private bodies (participating in FAS) do not disclose any personal or individual information or data they obtain in the course of their advisory activity

Current Bulgarian Legislation Concerning Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services No special law for agricultural and rural advisory service; Bulgarian Law for supporting agricultural producers (Article 10); Law on Agricultural Academy; National Ordinance №13 by 19 May 2015 for implementation of Bulgarian RDP Operation Advisory services for farmers and forest holders

Article 10 of Bulgarian Law for supporting agricultural producers The Ministry of Agriculture and Food establishes farm advisory system, which includes National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS) and the persons authorized to participate under measure 2 "Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services" under RDP 2014 – 2020; Farm Advisory system covers the provision of farmers advice pursuant to Art. 12, paragraphs 2 and 3 of Regulation (EC) № 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Regulation (EEC) № 352/78, (EC) № 165/94, (EC) № 2799/98, (EC) № 814/2000, (EC) № 1290/2005 and (EC) № 485/2008 of the Council (OJ, L 347/ December 2013), hereinafter referred to as "Regulation (EU) № 1306/2013". The provision of advice by NAAS is financed from the national budget, from schemes and measures of the common agricultural policy and other funding sources. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food establishes and maintains a database of persons who provide advice to farmers. The modalities for collection and storage of the database shall be governed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food.

RDP Measure 2 “Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services” Providing special advisory package for young farmers under Operation Advisory services for farmers and forest holders including development of business plan and application for submeasure 6.1. for support of young farmers; Until the conclusion of contracts with the selected beneficiaries of financial assistance held pursuant to Art. 10 procedure procurement under the Law of Public Procurement NAAS is a beneficiary of financial assistance. Submeasure 2.1, operation Providing advisory services to small farms - 6 package of advisory services including development of projects under RDP (Measure 4. “Investments in physical assets”, 6.3 “Setting up activities for development of small farms” and 6.4. “Investments for non-agricultural activities” NAAS is a single beneficiary under this measure until 2017, and after if is necessary will be chosen more advisory organization Sub-measure 2.2 Setting up advisory services - creating a mobile centres on municipality at NAAS (by 50) NAAS is a single beneficiary under this measure

Thank you for your attention! Emanuela Dimitrova Senior expert in General Directorate “Agricultural advices and Analytical Laboratory” National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS), 7 “Shosse Bankja” street; 1331 Sofia, Bulgaria