Government passes land sale bill
The government on Tuesday passed a bill introducing a five-year ban on sales of state-owned farmland. Under the new law only private farmers will be able to purchase land.
The bill, authored by the agriculture minister, is designed to protect farmland from speculation purchasing by domestic and foreign buyers.
The new law answers the May 1, 2016 expiry of a 12-year transition period on land sales to foreigners and resulting expectations of raised interest in Polish farmland by EU buyers. According to the bill authors, current laws provide insufficient protection against speculation.
If passed, the new law will place state-owned farmland at the disposal of the Agricultural Property Agency (ANR) and make it available mainly under longterm lease, which will enable control over its exploitation.
Exempt from the sale ban will be among others technology and industrial parks, business and logistic centres, transport objects, housing terrain, farmland in special economic zones, household gardens and plots up to 1 hectare.
Land purchases will be mainly allowed to private farmers. Purchased farmland will be exempt from re-sale or lease for a period of ten years.
If passed, the new law is to come in force on April 30, 2016. (PAP)
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