The government protects the safety of food and feed supplies with an export ban

The war in Ukraine created an extraordinary situation in the European and Hungarian food economy, since Ukraine is the fourth largest food supplier in the European Union. Therefore, the Hungarian government made a responsible decision to maintain the security of the domestic supply, said the Minister of Agriculture.

István Nagy, according to the ministry's announcement sent to MTI on Sunday, said: grain market prices and feed prices have risen radically due to Ukrainian crops falling from the market, and in addition, as a result of the fear of shortages, the demand for the purchase of Hungarian agricultural crops abroad is also increasing significantly.

The minister emphasized that it is necessary to protect Hungarian farmers and Hungarian families from economic and supply problems, adding that this is the main task of the government. Therefore, with particular regard to domestic livestock keepers, the supply of livestock feed and meat production, according to the government's decision, all wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, soybeans and sunflowers intended to be exported from the territory of Hungary until May 15, 2022 to the person planning the export or business must notify the National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) in advance - the minister informed.

According to István Nagy's information, if the export of the declared agricultural product would threaten or risk the security of domestic supply, the state can use its right of pre-emption or purchase, and it will declare its intention to exercise these rights to the notifier within thirty days. The notification obligation does not apply to exports from the territory of Hungary as transit transport and to humanitarian aid. Details of the notification process and the content of the notification can be found on the Nébih website.

The purpose of the decree published in Magyar Közlöny No. 42 of 2022 is to ensure that agricultural crops remain on the domestic market to the extent necessary for the security of domestic feed and food supply, and that sales and exports abroad do not endanger or risk domestic livestock keepers and the the supply of consumers, said the minister, according to the ministry's announcement.

MTI

PHOTO: MTI/ZSOLT CZEGLÉDI