Agriculture Minister István Nagy said Hungary is considering extending a newly introduced ban on imports of Ukrainian farm products if Brussels does not implement adequate protections for Hungarian farmers.
Minister Nagy announced on Saturday that Hungary was banning imports of Ukrainian grain, oilseed and other farm products until June 30 to allow time for a “rethink” of European Union measures that have resulted in a glut on local markets. Responding to an opposition lawmaker in parliament today, agriculture ministry state secretary Sándor Farkas said several Ukrainian farm products were being pulled from the market after food safety authority Nébih and other authorities discovered that they contained harmful substances. The authorities will find and inspect all Ukrainian import products that are suspected to be contaminated, he said. Hungarian farmers must be protected at all cost, not just in the case of imported grain, but also oil seeds and honey, Farkas added.