Prawne uwarunkowania wsparcia krótkich łańcuchów dostaw żywności w PROW 2014-2020

The aim of the paper is to present forms of shortening the food chain, which are being supported in the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 and to determine whether the legal conditions to obtain the financial support are consistent with the legislation, especially with the amended regulations on direct sales. Four actions („Help to start a business for the development of small farms”, „Support for investment in agricultural holdings”, „Support for investments in processing and marketing,” „Help in start-up investments for young farmers”) are intended for farmers for investments related to agricultural processing and preparation for the sale, without the obligation to register a business, fitting into the content of the amended Art. 3 of Law on Freedom of Economic Activity. „Creating groups and producers’ organizations”, „Cooperation”, „Leader”, are aimed at integrating stakeholders in the food chain, strengthen the position of the agricultural producer in the food chain and contribute to building a local food system. On this basis there is a chance that the short chains and local food production will become more significant in the food system in Poland.