FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment of Belgium actively informs potato growers in Belgium that their yearly contribution to the Potato Growers’ Solidarity Fund is due in September. After a hiatus of several years, the mandatory payment will be collected again for the 2024 planting season.

“[…] The role of the Solidariteitsfonds voor de Aardappeltelers (Potato Growers’ Solidarity Fund), which was created in 2004 as part of the Begrotingsfonds (Budgetary Fund) for the production and protection of plants and plant products, is to provide financial support to potato growers in the event of a phytosanitary crisis. This mechanism allows producers affected by the destruction, processing, or denaturation of batches of potatoes that are infected or suspected of being infected with certain quarantine diseases to receive compensation. The conditions for compensation and the method of calculating contributions are laid down in the Koninklijk Besluit (Royal Decree) of 5 December 2004 establishing temporary crisis contributions payable by potato growers to compensate for the losses they have suffered as a result of measures against quarantine organisms,” according to a recent Belpotato press release.

The organization’s representatives added that the collection of contributions is suspended when the fund’s financial reserves reach or exceed the threshold of EUR1.5m. The contributions of potato growers were therefore suspended for the harvest years 2010 to 2023 because sufficient financial reserves had previously been built up.

Last year, the Solidarity Fund’s reserves fell below the threshold of EUR1.5m. To guarantee the financial viability of the fund and to ensure that it can provide sufficient support to farmers in times of need, and as provided for in the Royal Decree of 5 December 2004, contributions are therefore required again for the 2024 harvest year.

Potato growers will soon receive an invoice by post from the Budgetary Fund for the Production and Protection of Plants and Plant Products. The amount of the individual contribution is calculated based on the cultivated area. For 2024, the indexed amounts are EUR 31.04/ha for certified seed potatoes and EUR 15.52/ha for consumption potatoes and farm seed potatoes.

The growers concerned are requested to pay their contribution within 30 days of receipt of the invoice to ensure the continuity of this essential solidarity mechanism and to avoid reminder costs amounting to 20% of the original amount with a minimum of 50 euros.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the De FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu (FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment of Belgium) of Belgium at the following address: fonds.planten@health.fgov.be