“We are obliged to carry out some treatments within the framework of integrated production or ecological agriculture, we have this obligation by law, but logically on those areas that are damaged and will not have any harvest this year, it seems illogical to us,” said Chlad before the meeting .
The winegrowers also agreed with the minister to cancel some measures. This is, for example, the abolition of the obligation to maintain minimum numbers of productive live vine bushes. According to the Ministry, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute should issue a map with damaged locations, based on which the temporary cancellation of some conditions will be assessed. Exceptions will apply for this year.
In addition, the Minister will also offer financial assistance. According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture is ready to activate a program for solving risks and crises in agriculture for all growers whose production was damaged by the frost. He will present the material to the government on Tuesday. However, winegrowers’ representatives have already announced that they will not demand compensation from the state for the damage caused by the April frosts in the vineyards. Instead, they are demanding that the government back down from plans to introduce an excise tax on still wines.
According to its president, the association will not officially support the payment of compensation, however, it respects if any of the winemakers request money. Výborný said today that the damage to the vineyards in Mělnick or Mostek is almost 100%. Lower yields will also be in Moravia this year, in some sub-regions the damage will exceed 30 percent.
The National Economic Council of the Government (NERV) recommended the introduction of an excise tax on still wine as one of the options for improving the state of public finances last year as part of the consolidation package. Both the Union of Winemakers and the Vinařská Union objected to this recommendation, mainly arguing that wines in neighboring countries have the same relief and that after the introduction of the consumption tax, local winemakers will cease to be competitive. At the same time, sparkling wine is already taxed, where 23.40 crowns per liter is deducted.
Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS) wants to conclude the debate on whether the government will impose an excise tax on still wine by the end of May. Regarding taxation, the working group met several times. Minister Výborný said at the end of February that there is no agreement on the possible taxation of still wine.
Tags: Winegrowers negotiated concessions ecology due frost shift tax wine
