The Ministry of Agriculture has amended the regulatory framework governing the granting of direct payments through Order MADR no. 44/2026, which supplements the implementation rules of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027. The normative act introduces the obligation for farmers applying for subsidies to submit supporting documents proving the actual agricultural activity carried out on the declared land. The measure aims to strengthen the definition of the “active farmer” and reduce situations in which land is declared without effective cultivation.

Specifically, starting with the 2027 APIA campaign, beneficiaries of direct payments will be required to submit invoices or other documents attesting to the purchase of agricultural inputs – seed material, fertilizers, plant protection products, fuel – as well as evidence of the agricultural works performed. The documents must be submitted within the deadline established by APIA for each application year. For the 2026 campaign, the provisions will not be mandatory, as a transition period has been предусмотрed.

The new requirement aligns with the broader European trend toward increased traceability and administrative control over the use of funds under the Common Agricultural Policy. For farmers, the implications are primarily administrative, requiring more rigorous record-keeping of expenses and agricultural activities. From the authorities’ perspective, the measure seeks a closer alignment between the financial support granted and the agricultural activity actually carried out.