• Constitution of the RS
• Government of the Republic of Slovenia Act (OJ RS, No 4/93, 23/96, 47/97)
• Public Administration Act (OJ RS, No 67/94, 20/95, 29/95)
• Organization and Competence of Ministries Act (OJ RS, No 71/94, 47/97, 30/01)
• Agricultural Land Act (OJ RS, No 59/96, 31/98)
• National Farm Land and Forest Fund Act (OJ RS, No 10/93, 1/96, 23/96)
• Act on the Provision of Maintenance to Farmers (OJ RS, No 13/92, 7/92)
• Wine and Other Wine and Grape Products Act (OJ RS, No 70/97)
• Act on Plant Health (OJ RS, No 45/01)
• Lipica Stud Farm Act (OJ RS, No 29/96)
• Act on Measures to Provide Stocking, Processing and Supply of Milk and Dairy Products (OJ RS, No 42/89, No 14/90)
• Act Regulating the Protection, Breeding and Hunting of Deer and the Management of Hunting Grounds (OJ SRS, No 25/76, 29/86)
• Marine Fisheries Act (OJ SRS, No 25/76, 29/86, 47/87, 41/99, 58/02)
• Inheritance of Agricultural Households (OJ RS, No 70/95)
• Measures in Animal Husbandry Act (OJ SRS, No 17/78, 29/86)
• Special Import Duties for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs Act (OJ RS, No 29/93)
• Forest Act (OJ RS, No 30/ 93)
• Freshwater Fisheries Act (OJ SRS, No 25/76, 42/86)
• Cooperatives Act (OJ RS, No 13/92, 7/93)
• Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry Act (OJ RS, No 41/99)
• Protection of New Varieties of Plants Act (OJ RS, No 86/98)
• Agriculture Act (OJ RS, No 54/00, 52/02, 58/02, 45/04, 20/06)
• Health and Hygiene Safety of Foods, and of Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Foods Act (OJ RS, No 52/00)
• Veterinary Service Act (OJ RS, No 33/01)
• Fodder Act (OJ RS, No 13/02)
• Plant Protection Products Act (OJ RS, No 11/01)
• Mineral Fertilizers Act (OJ RS, No. 58/2002)
• Stock Farming Act (OJ RS, No 18/02)
• Forest Reproductive Material Act (OJ RS, No 58/02)
• Agricultural Seeds and Propagating Material Act (OJ RS, No 58/02, 45/04 – ZdZPKG, 86/04)
• Forest Act (OJ RS, No 30/93, 13/98-odl. US, 56/99-ZON, 67/02)
• Forest Development Programme of Slovenia (OJ RS, No 14/96)
• Wild Game and Hunting Act (OJ RS, No 16/04)

The Forests Act adopted in 1993 regulates the protection, cultivation, exploitation and use of forests in order to secure:

• sustainable and multiple-use management in accordance with the principles of environmental protection and natural values;
• permanent and optimal functioning of forests as ecosystems;
• implementation of all forest functions (ecological, social and productive) on a permanent basis.

The bases for management are the "National Forest Development Programme" and forest management plans. The “National Forest Development Programme”, adopted by the National Assembly in 1996, defines national policy in relation to sustainable forest management, provides guidelines for the conservation and development of forests and sets out the conditions for their exploitation or use. It also sets out a strategy for the development of individual spheres of forest management, provides professional guidelines for cooperation with those fields that interact with forestry in the countryside, and determines the organisational, personnel and material basis for the implementation of the strategy for sustainable, close-to-nature and multiple-use management of forests and other wooded land.

Fourteen regional forest management plans for the period 2001-2010 were adopted by the government in 2003. These plans define:

• forest functions and their evaluation,
• objectives of forests management,
• guidelines and measures for achieving their objectives.

On the basis of these regional plans, 234 local management plans are to be produced and adopted by the minister during the same period.

The Slovenian agriculture contributes less than 3 % of BDP and employs about 5 % of the active manpower. However, agriculture has a very important role in the development of the countryside and the social stability. According to the OECD criteria, 90 % of the Slovenian territory is defined as countryside and over one half of the Slovenian population lives in rural areas. In the rest of Europe, only Austria and Ireland have a comparative share of the rural population.

In the last few years, the surface of the utilized agricultural land ranged between 505 and 510 thousand ha. In the structure of use, a 60 % share is permanent grassland, the share of fields covers about one third (about 170 thousand ha), and permanent crops about 6 %. The largest share of fields goes to the production of cereals (almost 60 %), among which the most important are the corn for grains, and wheat.

Slovenia has relatively unfavourable natural conditions for agricultural production: the agricultural land represents 44 % of the whole territory and 78 % of agricultural lands are in less favourable agricultural areas. Despite structural changes which have been intensively carried out in the last few years, and the noticeable increase in size of the farms, the size structure in general is still unfavourable. The average farm size is 6.2 ha, and the majority of agricultural land (about 60 %) is cultivated by agricultural households ranging in the size groups below 10 ha. In Slovenia there are only a few large agricultural companies, since family farming is prevailing. About 80 % of farms are mixed and only about 12 % farms are pure, i.e. agriculture is their unique source of income. Data concerning the labour force in agriculture for 2002, expressed in the equivalent annual work units, show that in average there is one man-work unit in agriculture per 5.2 ha of the utilized agricultural area.

The process of transition in Slovenia affected the agricultural sphere much less than in some other countries of the Central and Eastern Europe. The production decrease in the beginning of the nineties was followed by a period of a stable common agricultural production. Stock farming is the major agricultural activity – it represents one half of the gross agricultural production and in the value of the final production it prevails with about 60% share. The most important productions are those of milk and veal. They are followed by crop production (18 - 20%), while fruit growing (with apples as the most important product) and winegrowing contribute about 15% to gross agricultural production.

After a decrease in 1993, the trade in agri-food products has been increasing constantly, reaching 1,175 million euros in 2003. Despite the increase in both exports and imports, the share of agri-food industry in the total Slovenian exchange of goods has been gradually decreasing. In 2003, the share of external trade in agri-food products was 3.6% of the total Slovenian export of goods, and 6.3% of import. The external trade balance of agri-food products has been negative, and Slovenia remains a traditional net importer of agri-food products. The major Slovenian export products are beverages, dairy products, and meat products. The important import groups are primarily fruit, feeding stuffs, various food products, cereal and products of cereal, meat and vegetables.

The EU Member States are the largest trade partner as regards the exchange of agri-food products (44% of the total agri-food exchange in 2003), the countries in the territory of the former Yugoslavia (28%), and the Cefta countries (12%). Slovenia achieves most of its agri-food export in the markets of the former Yugoslavia (60% in 2003) and the EU (26%). As regards its import, the largest share is represented by the EU Member States (54% in 2003) and Cefta (17%).

The Slovenian budgetary expenditures for agriculture have been increasing all since 1995, especially in the period after the adoption of the Slovenian agricultural reform in 1998. There was a large increase of budgetary expenditures for the market-price policy, above all due to market stabilization measures, and to a constant increase of direct payments to producers. In 2003, the budgetary expenses for agriculture totalled 190 million euros, which was twice as much as in 1998. In the period 1999-2003, the budgetary expenditures for the market-price policy measures represented about 45% of all the expenses to support agriculture. After 1998, the budgetary support for the measures of countryside development have been increasing much slower than the expenditures for the market-price policy, while their share in total expenses for the support of agriculture has been gradually decreasing from about 35% in the period before 1999 to about 25% in the years 1999-2003. Only the regulatory payments for the areas with less favourable conditions have been increasing (especially in 2000 and 2002), as well as ecological payments which have been constantly increasing after the adoption of the Slovenian Agricultural Environment Programme in 2001.

Agriculture

After the draught in 2001, the year 2002 was extremely favourable for plant production, and the year 2003 again a very unfavourable one because of draught. The first estimates show that particularly due to a lower plant production, the scope of agricultural production decreased by almost 13% compared to 2002 and fell again to the level of the unfavourable year 2001.

The most important product in the structure of animal production is milk (about 30% value of the livestock production), bovine meat (about 25%), porcine meat (about 20%), and poultry meat (about 12%). In 2003, the scope of livestock production, which has been constantly growing since 1997, has remained at the level of the preceding year according to the first estimates.

Agriculture shows a clear trend of the concentration of agricultural land to agricultural households. In the last six years, the total number of agricultural households was reduced from 90,000 to 77,000. According to the survey data the share of utilized agricultural land has even increased by 4% compared to 1997. The average size of agricultural households is now 6.3 ha, which is 23% or 1.5 ha more than in 1997.

The structural changes in the Slovenian agriculture are relatively intense and in line with the guideline of the agricultural policy reform. The Slovenian agriculture of this period is characterized by the concentration and specialization, and increased competitiveness of the sector.

An important step was made in the field of rural development, especially in the segment of regulatory payments (agricultural-environmental program and areas with limited possibilities for agricultural activity). A comprehensive program was elaborated which supports and stresses the environment protection component of farming, and guarantees the preservation of values as the cultural landscape and the population distribution.

Slovenia is institutionally capable to implement all the common agricultural policy measures within the negotiated scope. It has accredited the RS Agency for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development for the purpose of implementing these measures.

The Slovenian Food Industry 

The Slovenian food industry has an important role in the economical, social and political sense, arising from its importance for the nutrition and health of people, their traditional connection with Slovenian agriculture and their strong interdependence, and also from the number of people employed in both food industry and primary agriculture..

The Slovenian food industry employs nearly 20,000 people, working in about 400 enterprises. It represents about 9% of all employees and about 6% of all companies in the manufacturing sector.

Meat processing and the production of bread are two major activities, in terms of the number of companies and employees, together accounting for almost a half of all employed in the food industry. Food processing facilities are mostly located in small towns and villages that produced the high degree of fragmentation with a large number of small-scale enterprises, evenly located throughout the country.

In the last decade, the Slovenian food processing industry had to face markedly altered conditions following independence and loss of some markets. So the adjustment to new circumstances and restructuring of companies was necessary. Most Slovenian food enterprises have been modernised and have improved their competitiveness. Today they have a number of competitive advantages, such as meeting demanding European standards, high quality certificates, the traceability control system, the introduction of systems ensuring food safety, food being produced in a natural environment etc. For those reasons Slovenian food enterprises represent a strong potential for qualitative and reliable business partnerships.

The Slovenian food industry is well known on the domestic market and abroad as a reliable supplier of quality and safe food. A lot of companies are inward-oriented and primarily supply the domestic market. The major products for export are beverages, milk products, and canned fruit and vegetables, meat and meat preparations and so on. Countries of former Yugoslavia and the European Union are the major destinations for Slovenia’s food exports, together accounting for more than 80% of the total export for the greater part of export products. Imports are dominated by unprocessed products, primarily cereals, fruits and vegetables. The most important suppliers are the countries of European Union.   

The accession to the EU brings radical changes for Slovenian food companies, but also numerous opportunities. At the same time, Slovenian food companies could present great opportunities for numerous business partners, who will be able to recognize their advantages.

In the field of food safety Slovenia takes into consideration Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. Regulation (EC) No 178/2002  does not concern only food safety but also traceability.

To provide organization  between different institutions in the field of food safety Slovenia in 2003 announced the Decree co-ordinating the operation of ministries and organs under their responsibility having competences in the field of food or foodstuff safety in including in the process of risk analysis.

Fishery

By adopting the harmonized Marine Fisheries Act, a new system was introduced in the field of market organizations, natural resource management, structural measures and control. The records of the fishing vessels and the system of reporting to the European data base FIDES were introduced. In the period of aligning the fisheries policy with the EU requirements, there was a systematic cofinancing of investments in the modernization of the food-processing industry, the fish farms, and the fishing vessels. It facilitated the alignment with the European standards in this field and increased the competitiveness of the sector. 

In 2000, several actions were carried out in the field of freshwater fishery aimed at confirming the medium-term fish farming plans for 2000-2006. This has guaranteed a systematic management of freshwater fish stocks.

In line with the determination of Slovenia to support the model of multi-purpose agriculture, a stronger focus is put on the measures of agricultural structural policy and rural development. Since Slovenia was treated as a Target Area 1 in the period 2004-2006, the funds for implementing the measures of agricultural structural policy and rural development are being allocated under these two programmes, i.e. the Rural Development Programme and the Single Programme Document which serve as a basis to obtain funds from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. A similar role is played by the support for the modernization and restructuring of agriculture and the food-processing industry, and the support intended for the economic diversification of the countryside. The goal of these supports is above all the creation of economically more vigorous and more perspective agricultural holdings and improved competitiveness of the food-processing industry.

Unit for EU coordination and international affairs

Mr. Janez Slabe, Undersecretary
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dunajska cesta 58, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone:       +386 1 478 91 48
Secretariat: +386 1 478 91 98
Fax:         +386 (0)1 478 90 16
E-mail: janez.slabe@gov.si

Single Programme Document

Mrs. Alenka Šesek
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dunajska cesta 58, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 478 90 63
Fax:    +386 1 478 90 56
E-mail: alenka.sesek@gov.si
Web Page: http://www.gov.si/svrp/3str/1s-3.html


Rural Development Programmes & Wine Tourist Routes (VTC)

Mr. Bogdan Pungartnik
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dunajska cesta 58, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 478 90 59
Fax:    +386 1 478 90 56
E-mail: bogdan.pungartnik@gov.si


Tourist Farms in Slovenia

Tourist Farms Association of Slovenia
Trnoveljska 1, SI-3000 Celje, Slovenia
Phone: +386 3 491 64 80
Fax:    +386 3 491 64 81
Web Page: http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/touristfarms


Quality Agricultural Products and the Introduction of PDO, PGI & TSG Labels in Slovenia

Mrs. Mira Kos-Skubic, M.Sc.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dunajska cesta 58, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 478 91 10
Fax:    +386 1 478 90 55
E-mail: mira.zupanc@gov.si

Mrs. Ana Le Marechal
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dunajska cesta 58, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Phone: +386 1 478 93 13
Fax:    +386 1 478 90 55
E-mail: ana.lemarechal@gov.si

National Contact Points

• EPD
• Statistics-agriculture and fishery
• Tourist farms
• Report on the project »State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources«

• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
• National Forestry Service (currently available in Slovene only!)
• Slovenian Forestry Institute
• Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia (currently available in Slovene only!)
• University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty
• Secondary School of Forestry and Wood Technology, Postojna (currently available in Slovene only!)
• Gozdarski vestnik (monthly Journal of Forestry, currently available in Slovene only!)
• Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva (quarterly Journal of Forestry & Wood Science and Technology, currently available in Slovene only!)
• Revija Les (Journal of Wood science & Technology, currently available in Slovene only!)
• CCIS - Forestry Association
• CCIS - Wood Processing Association
• CCIS - Pulp, Paper and Paper Converting Industry Association
• The Slovenian Wood Industry Cluste