On February 23, the Ukrainian Agri Council took part in the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, where the issue of legalization of agricultural production in the temporarily occupied territories was raised. 

These are the draft laws No. 7646 "On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Citizens and the Legal Regime in the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Ukraine" on the activities in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and No. 7647 "Draft Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Improving Responsibility for Collaboration Activities".

The UAC constantly insists that the above-mentioned draft laws be considered and adopted by the Parliament as soon as possible.

Agrarians in the de-occupied territories have already been accused of collaboration with the enemy and are often under investigation.

 "In particular, after the de-occupation of Kharkiv region, legal verification of agroproducers began. Some of our members are in custody, they cannot stay at home during the investigation. Their only fault is that they stayed on their territory and carried out economic activities. The very fact of economic activity, in particular in the agro-industrial sector, cannot be criminalized," said Denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the UAC, during a meeting of the Agricultural Committee.

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy supported draft laws 7646 and 7647 and recommended them for consideration by the specialized committee on law enforcement with further submission to parliament.

The adoption of draft laws 7646 and 7647 will be a positive signal for farmers in the occupied territories who are waiting for liberation to start the spring sowing campaign