In the Government Meeting, the Ordinance establishing a state aid scheme to support the activities of beef and buffalo breeders in the context of the crisis caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine was approved.

Thus, through this legislative act, a temporary state aid scheme is established to support the activities of beef and buffalo breeders from October 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, in the context of the crisis caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, valid until December 31, 2023. The scheme aims to compensate for losses incurred due to the increase in prices for fodder, fuel, and other costs (labor, veterinary services, utilities, etc.).

The beneficiaries of the scheme can be breeders who own beef and buffalo, including individual and family enterprises, authorized individuals, and legal entities.

The eligibility conditions are as follows:

1. Ownership, as of March 31, 2023, of a headcount of beef or buffalo in the farm with an ANSVSA code registered in the National Database (BND).
2. The beef and buffalo for which state aid is requested must be registered in the breed's genealogical register, in the main or supplementary section.
3. Ownership, on the day before the start date of the application submission period, of at least 50% of the beef and/or buffalo headcount held on March 31, 2023.

The total amount that can be granted to each enterprise for supporting breeders engaged in primary agricultural production does not exceed the equivalent of 280,000 euros in lei.

The proposed amount for state aid is as follows:

• For beef cattle: 100 euros per head
• For buffalo: 100 euros per head

The estimated value of the aid scheme is 79,427,740 lei, equivalent to 16,100,000 euros, with an estimated number of potential beneficiaries being 6,000, having an estimated stock of 150,000 heads of beef cattle and 11,000 heads of buffalo.

The exchange rate for calculating the maximum total value/amount is the one communicated by the National Bank of Romania on August 1, 2023, which is 4.9334 lei/euro.

The necessary documents for accessing the state aid scheme are:

1. Copy of the beneficiary's ID/card, registration certificate with the National Trade Register Office, authorization, and a copy of the representative's ID/card.
2. Bank/treasury coordinates.
3. Document issued by the users of the National System for Animal Identification and Registration (SNIIA), indicating the number of beef and buffalo on the date of application submission, in the farm(s) with a code assigned by the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, as stated in the application.
4. Certificate issued by the accredited agency/association for establishing and maintaining the breed's genealogical register, confirming the registration of beef cattle in the breed's genealogical register, either in the main or supplementary section.
5. Certificate issued by the accredited agency/association for establishing and maintaining the breed's genealogical register, confirming the registration of buffalo in the breed's genealogical register, either in the main or supplementary section.

The application period is 30 working days from the date this ordinance comes into effect, and the payment deadline is June 30, 2024.

The source of funding is the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, within the approved limits.