The Parliament admits the Agrarian Law Project of the Balearic Islands

The Bureau of the Parliament of the Balearic Islands, in its session on October 7, 2026, has admitted for processing the Agrarian Law Project of the Balearic Islands (RGE no. 13528/26) and has ordered the publication of the full text to give effect to article 124.2 of the Parliamentary Regulations. The text appears in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands, no. 131, of October 15, 2026, Section V, second subsection, under edict number 10305 and the electronic signature of the president of the chamber, Gabriel Le Senne Presedo, dated October 13, 2026. The regulation consists of 234 articles and replaces the current Law 3/2019, of January 31, Agrarian Law of the Balearic Islands, which is expressly repealed.

The project arrives at Parliament after the Government of the Balearic Islands approved the text, signed by President Margalida Prohens i Rigo and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet i Pons. According to the statement of reasons, the agrarian sector manages more than 85% of the territory of the Balearic Islands and faces a profound crisis due to insularity, low profitability, the high price of land, minifundism, the lack of generational renewal, and excessive regulation. The regulation recovers the spirit of Law 12/2014, of December 16, Agrarian Law of the Balearic Islands and has been drafted with contributions from more than twenty sector entities.

A new framework for the primary sector

The text is structured into a preliminary title, twelve titles, 234 articles, three additional provisions, ten transitional provisions, one repealing provision, six final provisions, and an annex. The stated objective is to guarantee the viability, continuity, and competitiveness of agrarian holdings, and to maintain the population and economic activity in the rural environment. Among the measures it incorporates, the following stand out:

• New definitions that clarify concepts and simplify administrative management.
• The promotion of complementary activities, which must be linked to a real agrarian holding and cannot displace its main productive activity.
• The promotion of agro-industry, local products, direct sales, and tasting.
• The recognition of cooperatives and agrarian transformation societies as structuring elements of the sector.
• The consideration of the forestry sector as an agrarian activity, with attention to biomass and fire prevention.
• The reservation of prior authorization for actions with proven impact, with the responsible declaration and prior communication as ordinary instruments.
• The creation of the Technical Unit for Agrarian and Fisheries Statistics and Economic Analysis, integrated into the Research and Training Institute for Agriculture and Fisheries of the Balearic Islands (IRFAP).

Changes in rural land and environmental assessment

The first and second final provisions modify Law 6/1999, of April 3, on the territorial planning guidelines of the Balearic Islands and tax measures: the first alters the rural land planning matrix, land categories, the regulation of uses, and the specific standards of Annex I; the second, the definitions of the activities regulated in this matrix. Agricultural uses are considered permitted uses on rural land, and planning instruments cannot lower this level of protection.

The third final provision modifies Legislative Decree 1/2020, of August 28, which approves the Recast Text of the Environmental Assessment Law of the Balearic Islands, with new thresholds for photovoltaic installations on rural land. Likewise, Title II establishes the distribution of competencies between the Government and the island councils, and creates or maintains the Inter-Island Agricultural Council, the Inter-Island Forestry Council of the Balearic Islands, and the Advisory Council for Research and Innovation in the primary sector.

Manure, water, and sanctioning regime

The annex regulates the production, storage, transport, and use of manure from agricultural holdings. The main limits are:

• 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year in areas declared vulnerable to nitrates of agricultural origin, and 210 kg in the remaining areas.
• Storage capacity sufficient for three months of stabling, reducible to two months if the management plan justifies it.
• Incorporation of solid manure into the soil within a maximum period of 72 hours from distribution.
• Temporary manure heaps cannot remain for more than forty-five days at the holding where they are generated.

Title III regulates the water regime of the holdings and renewable energies, including the classification of agrivoltaics, while Title XII deploys the regime of inspection, infractions, and sanctions in agricultural and agri-food matters.

Processing and participation

The publication gives effect to article 124.2 of the Parliamentary Regulations and opens the public information phase of the bill. The enabled citizen participation channel is participaciociutadana@parlamentib.es. According to the sixth final provision, the future law will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands.

The regulation directly affects the owners of agricultural, livestock, and forestry holdings across the four islands, who will gain legal certainty and fewer administrative burdens, but also the city councils and island councils, which will have to adapt ordinances and planning. The text reaches Parliament with the primary sector as a declared priority and with insularity recognized as a differentiating factor deserving of special protection.

Source: Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands, no. 131, of October 15, 2026, Section V. Announcements, second subsection. Other official announcements, p. 55748 (official reference: edict 10305, RGE no. 13528/26).