KOWR right of first refusal affects Polish agricultural land sales

In Poland, the sale of agricultural land is subject to specific legal procedures that may prevent a transaction from being finalized at a single notary meeting. Under current law, the National Support Centre for Agriculture (Krajowy Ośrodek Wsparcia Rolnictwa - KOWR) holds a right of first refusal on certain agricultural properties.

When a sale is subject to this right, the process occurs in two stages. First, the parties sign a conditional sales agreement with a notary, stipulating that the buyer will acquire the property only if KOWR does not exercise its right to purchase. The notary then submits the deed to the relevant KOWR branch, which has one month to decide whether to step in as the buyer. KOWR evaluates each case individually, analyzing the property's condition, suitability, and local land market demand.