Croatia introduces new agricultural subsidies and meat labeling rules

The Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has introduced several new measures and regulatory proposals to support the domestic agricultural sector. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister David Vlajčić presented a proposal for an autumn sowing support program for 2026, valued at 10 million euros. This program aims to assist producers of crops such as winter wheat, barley, oats, and rapeseed by providing up to 70 euros per hectare to mitigate rising production costs.

Additionally, new regulations are being considered to improve consumer transparency regarding meat origin. The proposed changes would require retailers to clearly display the origin of unpackaged beef, pork, sheep, goat, and poultry meat directly next to the product, with text size comparable to the price.

On a broader scale, Marijana Petir, Chair of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee, warned of potential budget reductions for agriculture and fisheries at the EU level for the 2028–2034 period. Meanwhile, local initiatives in Đurđevac continue to receive municipal support for both agricultural production and rural tourism development.