PN wants hunters and trappers exempt from new farmland law

Updated 6.34 pm with Labour, ADPD reactions and parliamentary debate

The Opposition on Tuesday challenged a law on the use of land for agricultural purposes, saying its provisions were “dictatorial” and against the interests of hunters and trappers.

Introduced via legal notice in July, the law obliges landowners to use their fertile land for agricultural purposes. They risk being fined a maximum €11,000 if they repeatedly fail to do so. It came into force in September. 

Nationalist MPs moved amendments to the law in parliament to exempt hunters, trappers and those who launch fireworks from the sites in question. The Opposition motion effectively introduces a blanket exemption from the regulations "as needed for the practice of traditional Maltese pastimes."

“This law was done without consultation with hobby groups, and it will damage our traditional pastimes,” agriculture shadow minister Toni Bezzina said. 

Hobbies shadow minister Charles Azzopardi said the law was “dictatorial” as it gave the government power to take control of private land.

Under the legal notice, any agricultural landowner who fails to register the land with the Agricultural Resource Authority may have it repossessed and transferred to a third party for agricultural use. Azzopardi said this provision was “anti-democratic and dictatorial”. 

“This provision is worrying many farmers and their families,” Azzopardi said.

The new law obliges farmers to produce a “crop plan” for their land. It also establishes minimum thresholds to ensure that farmland remains arable.

Failure to do so means paying a fine between €500 and €2,500 for first-time offenders, and €1,500 and €11,000 for repeat offenders.

Hunters had said last summer that they were unhappy with the legal notice. Days later, they said they had negotiated amendments to the law - but failed to specify what those amendments were.  

PN is misinterpreting the issue - Labour

In a reaction, the Labour Party accused the PN of fake news.

By intentionally alarming the people, after trying to endanger people's hobbies, on the reform of the protection of agricultural land, the Opposition is persisting in misinterpreting this issue. The reform has no impact on any practice or hobby that takes place in our fields.

Anyone whose pastime is in agricultural land will continue to use it as long as the crops are not damaged as is currently happening, the PL said.

It argued that the legal notice had been in force for months now and no activity or hobby had been prohibited.

"Many people have gone to register their land and are benefiting from government aid and subsidies. The reform of the protection of agricultural land has also been made to strengthen food security in our country. Contrary to what the Opposition says, this legislation is the result of a serious and transparent process that started with a White Paper in 2022 and the subsequent public consultation," Labour insisted. 

Protecting the little agricultural land we have is a national responsibility. Existing regulations are reasonable as a first line of defence against pressures that are threatening to undermine our country's potential for local production, food security and the future of agriculture.

In a reaction, ADPD said that instead of strengthening the protection of our little remaining agricultural land, the PN proposed changes that reduce the effectiveness of existing regulations and open the door to further abuse of our rural environment.

"In the meantime the PN continues to prioritise other interests, including succumbing to pressures related to hunting and trapping, at the direct expense of farming and of farmers whose work keeps the supply of fresh produce going. This is the same party which tried to convince people of its environmental credentials a few weeks ago by proposing constitutional protection of the environment. What a farce!"

Government clarifies the legislation

During the parliamentary sitting, Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo tabled amendments to specifically say that hobbyists will be allowed to practice their pastime on agricultural land as long as they do not harm the land.

“The government is ready to be clearer to ensure that people will be able to practice traditional Maltese hobbies, as long as the activity does not damage the agricultural land,” Refalo said.

The counter motion also maintains Riżorsi Agrikoli Malta Agency’s right to acquire possession and manage unregistered land.

A vote on the Opposition motion and the government's amendment will be taken in mid-December.