More than 7 and a half 1000 farmers across Poland were in a situation without precedent. They may lose the chance at any time to legally usage their MTZ Belarus tractors. Over the years, these machines have been the basis for many farms. Today, however, it turns out that although they were registered in accordance with the procedures, officials questioned their legality, citing non-compliance with EU requirements.
Local Appeals Colleges shall consider the registrations of these tractors to be invalid, indicating the absence of the required approval certificates and compliance with European standards. These are models produced after 1 January 2016, which should comply with certain EU legislation, especially in terms of exhaust emissions and safety. Nevertheless, for years they were admitted to road traffic in Poland.
Farmers don't hide outrage. They bought equipment according to applicable law, frequently taking credit. They paid taxes, went through registration procedures and utilized machines as intended. Now they abruptly hear that the vehicles in which they invested in savings cannot travel on public roads. You can't drive them to the field, you can't sale them, you can't legally usage them. Many of the owners of these tractors feel treated as criminals, although they acted in accordance with the regulations.
Credits, taxes, work ban – administrative chaos
Many farmers stress that the choice of the Belarus brand was a rational decision. The machines were cheaper than Western models, possibly little comfortable, but full adequate for regular work on the farm. For many smaller agricultural producers, this was the only real option.
It was only after years erstwhile mass decisions to cancel the registration came to light that this equipment did not have adequate traffic permits in the European Union. The problem is that for many years the local and central administration did not respond, and officials registered these machines despite formal deficiencies. Now it is the farmers who bear the consequences.
The situation is all the more absurd due to the fact that farmers presently have no way out. Equipment is frequently inactive subject to credit, and is not allowed to usage it. You can't sale it or hand it over to individual else. The machine, which was expected to make profit for years and support regular production, becomes useless.
Agricultural organisations and chambers call on the government to take urgent action. They want to introduce abolition rules that would let users of already registered tractors to proceed to usage them legally. They propose that these machines be considered fit for usage on the basis of erstwhile administrative decisions. specified a decision could give time to kind things out without putting farmers at hazard and legal chaos. In consequence to the expanding tension, any associations make formal requests to the ministries and the Sejm with questions about the planned legislative changes. They request clear deadlines and information erstwhile concrete decisions can be expected. Unfortunately, no clear proposals have been put forward to address the problem.
You're under scrutiny, trust on the edge
The scandal around MTZ Belarus tractors is not just a substance of method documentation. This is simply a symbol of a more serious problem – how you treat a citizen who acted in good faith. Farmers did not have the ability to verify independently whether imported equipment meets EU standards. They relied on the offices that registered these vehicles without objection for years. Today, it is the same farmers who are to bear full work for something they have no influence on.
There is no explanation from importers who supplied equipment with incomplete documentation. There are no consequences for officials who have allowed this to happen. There is besides a deficiency of a real resolution plan that would aid resolve the problem in a fair and logical manner. Instead, we observe the shift of work and increasing frustration in agrarian environments.
In a political perspective, the issue could have serious consequences. Farmers are 1 of the most organized and determined social groups. If they feel abandoned by the state, it will not be without an impact on assurance in the institutions, government and the full system. Already today, many of them say openly that this substance will substance in the upcoming elections. It's not just the tractors. It is about respect for the citizen, the predictability of the law and the work of the institutions. If the state cannot correct its own mistakes, it is hard to require citizens to take them seriously. Farmers no longer want to hear empty declarations. They request solutions. Waiting means more losses, more fallen farms and another sense of injustice.
