The Moldovan government is continuing to assess demands from farmers in the northern part of the country, who are calling for changes to the VAT rate and the extension of licensing requirements for grain imports until the end of 2026.
Agriculture Minister Eugen Osmochescu said authorities would not make a decision before assessing the financial and economic impact of the measures requested by farmers, Bani.md reports.
According to the minister, the farmers’ demands are largely the same as those previously presented and focus primarily on the VAT rate, the licensing regime for grain imports and additional fiscal measures.
Regarding import licensing, Osmochescu said the government had already expressed its willingness to consider the measure in the context of the state of emergency. However, he stressed that any decision would only be made after the necessary calculations are completed.
“Until we see the financial and economic costs, we are not talking about licensing,” Osmochescu said.
He added that specialists from the Economic Council under the Prime Minister are currently calculating the potential impact of such a measure on all participants in the agricultural supply chain, from importers to farmers.
The VAT issue also remains under discussion. Osmochescu said the matter is being examined in Parliament by both the Economy, Budget and Finance Committee and the Agriculture Committee.
Government representatives are participating in the discussions, but a final decision will be made only after the analyses and consultations are completed, the minister said.
Meanwhile, farmers from the Falesti district held a peaceful protest on Monday, September 28, using agricultural machinery and equipment. Farmers from several agricultural associations and with different political views took part in the demonstration.
The protesters are demanding that authorities maintain the 8% VAT rate for cereals and oilseeds, extend the licensing requirement for imports of cereals and sunflower seeds until at least December 31, 2026, and reimburse the excise duty on diesel purchased between June 1 and December 1, 2026.
The farmers from Falesti said that if their demands are not addressed, they intend to drive their agricultural machinery toward Chisinau after completing the current harvesting and sowing operations.
They also called on farmers from other districts to join their actions.
The government’s assessment is expected to determine whether the measures requested by farmers can be implemented while taking into account their impact on the agricultural sector, consumers and public finances.