AN approves first five articles of the Coffee Bill
AN Press
Published at: 02/06/2026 07:56 PM
The National Assembly (AN) approved this Tuesday, in its second discussion, the first five articles of the Coffee Bill, which aims to promote and promote sustainable and responsible production, transformation, industrialization, marketing, export and consumption processes throughout the country.
Deputy Wilmar Castro Soteldo (PSUV/Nacional) presented the bill and emphasized that the regulation consists of 37 articles, two transitory provisions, one repeal and one final provision.
He highlighted the deep social and deep-rooted character of coffee cultivation in the country's highlands and paid tribute to the producers who were part of the construction of the law. He quoted a famous popular phrase from the Venezuelan countryside: “If there is coffee on the heights, there will be water and life on the plain.”
He explained the importance of full ecological awareness of the peasantry that lives in the mountains of the states of Lara, Portuguesa, Trujillo, Mérida and Táchira.
Field of fundamental interest
During the debate, the Plenary of Parliament approved modifying the wording of article 1 of the regulation, classifying coffee as an item of fundamental interest, transferring the “strategic” nature of the law to specific sections that develop the protection of the ecosystem and the preservation of soils in producing regions.
Article 2 details the need to promote the economic efficiency of all actors in the value chain to guarantee agri-food sovereignty, under an approach of sustainability and fair distribution of wealth.
The legal text includes incentives for the use of clean technologies, the inclusion of women and young people, and the strengthening of post-harvest, roasting and packaging processes.
The standard promotes scientific research for the industrialization of coffee in key sectors such as food, chemistry, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, increasing national competitiveness.
Guiding Principles
Article 3 generated a consensus after the debate on the guiding principles of the law, which contemplate ecological sustainability, social justice, economic sovereignty and legal security.
During the reading, the opposition group requested the explicit inclusion of respect for private property and the granting of fiscal improvements as fundamental principles within the norm.
Deputy Jesús Fanía (PSUV/Nacional) intervened to defend the proposal of the technical committee, clarifying that the concept of legal security perfectly encompasses all the guarantees of law, safeguarding the mixed economy and the current role of the private sector in the country's productive recovery.
Terms and definitions
Article 4 was also approved, which establishes the technical legal terms that define concepts such as related activities, coffee quality and the value chain.
The text gives legal status to germplasm banks, spaces designed to protect the genetic diversity of living plant species and seeds in the face of the challenges of climate change.
Finally, Article 5 was discussed, which defines the potentialities of the coffee sector and the cultural roots of consumption in the population. At this point, Deputy Ramón Lobo (PSUV/Mérida) formally requested the deferral to continue making progress in consolidating the project.
Mazo News Team