The federal Minister for Agriculture and the Self-Employed, David Clarinval, proposes to recognise the cattle and sheep farming sectors as sectors in crisis, allowing farmers whose herds are affected by bluetongue disease to benefit from payment facilities for their social contributions.
In the coming days, a note will be sent to the social insurance funds, formalising this recognition.
In practical terms, this measure will allow simplified handling of requests for deferral or exemption of social contributions for the third quarter of 2024, thereby offering direct support to farmers affected by the current crisis.
The cattle and sheep farming sectors are facing a particularly difficult situation due to the continued spread of bluetongue disease on Belgian farms. According to the latest figures from the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), more than 500 farms, mainly cattle and sheep farms, are now affected.
The Minister's recognition of the cattle and sheep sectors as sectors in crisis will enable faster and centralised handling of requests for payment facilities, responding more effectively to farmers' needs for the third quarter of 2024.
Farmers facing difficulties due to bluetongue disease will be able to benefit from several payment facility options, such as:
- Deferral of payment of social contributions without loss of social rights;
- Exemption from social contributions, while retaining their social rights, but without the quarter in question being counted towards their pension calculation;
- Reduction of the amount of social contributions based on actual expected income for 2024.
David Clarinval: “I want to express my support for cattle and sheep farmers whose animals are affected by bluetongue disease. It is essential that all measures be taken to help them through this difficult period. By recognising these sectors as being in crisis, we are simplifying the handling of requests for deferral or exemption of social contributions, thereby helping them overcome these challenges.”