August 22, 2023

Organisations in Hungary call for stop to EU's import of poultry, eggs from Ukraine

Hungary's National Agriculture Chamber (NAK) and the Poultry Product Council (BTT) called for halting imports of Ukrainian poultry and eggs in a joint statement last week, according to a report by state news wire MTI.

They argued that the unlimited inflow of these products into the European Union not only jeopardises the future of production in the EU and Europe's ability for self-sustenance but also poses food safety concerns.

While poultry farmers in the EU have to comply with strict food safety, veterinary health and animal welfare rules, Ukrainian producers are not subject to EU regulations, they said.

NAK and BTT noted that the EU quota before the liberalisation limited imports of Ukrainian poultry at 90,000 tonnes a year. In the one year since June 2022, the EU imported 218,000 tonnes of Ukrainian poultry, they added. As for egg imports, 2022 saw a fourfold increase compared with the previous year, they said, adding that in March this year alone, 100 million eggs were imported, nearly as much as during the whole of 2021.

All rules applicable to producers of the EU must also be applicable to any imported products, the organisations argued, adding that "this is expected not only in the interest of fair competition but also from the aspects of food safety and the interests of consumers."

- Budapest Business Journal