Svaz pěstitelů chmele České republiky (SPCH ČR)

The voluntary interest group of Czech hop growers, based in Žatec; formerly called Zájmové sdružení podnikatelů chmelem. It represents members before the government, the Agrární komora and international bodies, and keeps records of hop-garden areas and hop purchase contracts. As a hop producer group under EU rules it distributes EU aid to members in proportion to their hop area, and it publishes the trade journal Chmelařství.

Voluntary. Full members can be any legal entity based in the Czech Republic that grows hops; associate members any natural person resident in the Czech Republic who grows hops. A written application is needed (description of activity, trade register extract no older than 3 months or farmer registration); the board decides on admission.

Under the statutes (last amended in 2008, version published on the website) the fee is CZK 200 per ha of productive hop garden per year, due by 30 November; new members pay a pro-rata share within one month of admission. The board sets the fee each year by 31 March — please ask them directly for the current amount.

Fee basis: area/volume-based

• Representation before the government, the Agrární komora and international bodies
• Hop producer group: EU aid distributed in proportion to hop area
• Records of hop-garden areas and purchase contracts
• Economic, legal and business advice
• Monthly Chmelařství and the Czech Hops – Český chmel publication

• czhops.cz – Stanovy Svazu
• czhops.cz – Kontakt
• czhops.cz – Pěstování chmele