The fine for growing potatoes is no longer a joke, but a reality

Gone are the days when administrative violations and related fines affected car owners who parked their cars incorrectly, or pedestrians crossing the road at a red light. Now the authorities have decided to teach citizens not to leave a bucket of potatoes for seeds for next year, but to go to a seed store and buy only certified seeds.

Article 10.12 of the Code of Administrative Violations obliges citizens to buy potatoes for planting strictly in shops intended for the sale of seeds, the RIA Novosti agency writes. Law-abiding citizens will be provided with fines. If they violate the Code and plant uncertified potatoes for sale, they will pay 500 rubles. Farmers or other law firms will be punished with 10 thousand rubles. The agency quotes lawyer Redin, who “calms down” the population: “It will be considered an administratively punishable act only if you grow a root crop for the further sale of its seeds: for example, to sell some sort to neighbors”.

Who grows potatoes from seeds in Russia? The answer is obvious: few. The overwhelming majority of gardeners are planting potatoes left over from the last harvest. It turns out that now neither grandmothers nor summer residents will be able to sell their crops for fear of being fined.

The law is not called anything other than "Jesuit": "Even the communists did not think of this! And now - everything is forbidden! Violate - fine! Who is the government working for?"

This law is already being compared with the law on three ears of Stalin. "Thank you for not being shot for undermining the economy of Skrepshchina!" people on the Internet are outraged.

In fact, changes to the Code were made almost two years ago, and the draconian provision itself was adopted already in 2017 - all for the good of the people. This is how our omnipresent authorities “protect” summer residents from counterfeit or contaminated seeds, and buyers from low-quality goods. On the Rosselkhoznadzor website, back in August 2018, the authorities reassured citizens that if they did not sell potatoes, they could sleep peacefully. But if enterprising people want to monetize their crops, then they will be stabbed in the back. To sell vegetables and fruits on the market, you need to issue a safety certificate in the laboratory. The cost of checking is from 150 to 2000 rubles, depending on the quantity and type of product. If the old ladies act according to the law, then they will give one bucket of potatoes to the owners of the markets for a certificate, not to mention the fact that they will pay for a place. If the inspectors of Rosselkhoznadzor suspect you of selling potatoes for seeds, then you will have to issue certificates certifying the sowing and varietal qualities. The penalty for selling seeds is even greater. In addition, the state also provides for criminal liability for this.

In 2019 and 2020, Rosselkhoznadzor has not fined anyone yet, and wrote about this on its website. The state agency also reassures citizens, they say, no one will check the origin of seeds on the market, so "in fact" nothing will change for summer residents.

But who will blame the market owners if they want to introduce compulsory product certification? Or the law enforcers, who in the fall and spring will watch with passion everyone who opens the trunk on the side of the road, and there will be potatoes in it? Or Rosselkhoznadzor inspectors, who will receive a new directive to grab and replenish the agency's budget?

And corruption in our country has not yet been canceled. The grandmothers will have to raise prices, feed new inspectors and police officers, and citizens will have to get even deeper into their wallets - oats, that is, potatoes, are expensive now!