Today, December 20, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine extended the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land for a year - until January 1, 2020. For adoption of the relevant bill number 9355-5 "On amendments to Section X "Transitional Provisions" of the Land Code of Ukraine on the extension of the prohibition of the alienation of agricultural land", 231 people’s deputies voted in favor of a minimum of 226 votes.

"During the 4 years of cadence, the Verkhovna Rada failed to reflect the working version of the introduction of the land market in Ukraine. Despite the fact that discussions on the possible introduction of the land market are constantly under way in Ukraine, we still did not submit a draft law on the circulation of agricultural land. In addition, in our country there are still a number of unresolved issues. These issues together with the opening of the market will have catastrophic consequences for farmers. Under such conditions, to lift the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land in Ukraine ahead of time, unless a detailed step-by-step procedure for their introduction into economic circulation is developed. After all, the abolition of the land moratorium should not be an end in itself," said Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Agri Council Denis Marchuk.

According to the Verkhovna Rada and other associations uniting small and medium-sized agrarian business in Ukraine, the extension of the moratorium is a positive step. Before opening the land market, it is necessary to introduce an effective mechanism for cheap lending to small farmers, as well as work out and adopt a legislative framework for the formation of an advanced network of farms and agricultural cooperatives. It is important to ensure the rule of law in the protection of property rights, to conduct effective judicial reform, to complete the inventory of land and to fill the land cadastre and the register of property rights.

In addition, before the introduction of the land market, it is necessary to finally adopt anti-raiding bill No. 8121, developed with the participation of UAC and aimed at protecting the property rights of agricultural producers at the legislative level.

However, due to the attempts of the Ministry of Justice and some people's deputies to illegally include in the draft law No. 8121 the norms of the draft law "On Notary", of which 391 thousand hectares of uncalled land had to be alienated, the Verkhovna Rada today, on December 20, sent this important document on a second second reading. 235 people's deputies voted for the decision.

Agrarians had been waiting since March 2018 for the adoption of the bill No. 8121.

Its essence is to complicate the seizure of enterprises and property rights. It obliges state registrars to verify before conducting a particular transaction that a person applying for registration has the right to commit such acts. All information on the operations performed will be kept and checked.

The bill No. 8121 provides for online access of state cadastral registrars to the information contained in the State Register of Real Property Rights to Real Estate, and state registers of rights - to all information contained in the State Land Cadastre. This minimizes the risk that the registrar will "not know" that the sites were previously registered with another person. At the same time, administrative liability for violating state registers of legislation will be increased.