The Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights has announced the return of the temporary €12 million scheme through which prices for bread, flour, and animal fodder have assurances to remain stable.

Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo during a press conference explained that this multi-million-euro investment, which was already given last year, is aimed at importers of cereal and flour for local production.

Minister Refalo said during this press conference that the government felt responsible to be the body that lifts the burdens brought onto the islands through the international scene.

"Malta, as a small island, felt this impact a lot more than other countries that are larger and have more resources than us", the Minister said, "Therefore, we are re-launching this scheme because the government is fair to the citizens and is committed to keep the prices of flour and animal feed stable."

This subsidy was originally launched last year in May 2022 as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its economic impacts on the Maltese islands.

Combined with the economic challenges left over by the pandemic, the Ministry had initially launched this subsidy due to Malta's limitations in infrastructure to store products in the long-term, the increase in prices that followed, as well as the risk put on the security of supply to local markets.