Answer

Since August 2007, winemakers have been subject to a marketing tax. 60 percent of tax revenues which amount to HUF 750 million annually are allocated to collective wine marketing. A National Wine Marketing Program and a Collective Wine Marketing Strategy has also been prepared by Bormarketing Kht which will serve as guidelines for national level wine marketing activities till 2013. 80 percent of the funds available are used domestically at present, because exporters are not subject to the tax at present, while it is also hoped that EU funds will soon become available to multiply the amount to be allocated for export promotion. .The HUF 125 million available for export promotion in 2009 is enough to finance 15-20 projects. The most important objective of the export strategy is to build up and communicate the “Wines of Hungary” brand created by Bormarketing Kht in 2008. Unfortunately, we have not been able to access EU funds yet because of the absence of sufficient funds of our own which may not come from government subsidies. The budget available to the Agricultural Marketing Centre has been substantially reduced by 2009 and will cease to exist by 2010. However, it is a favourable development that financing by ITD Hungary has been increased, but this organisation will also rely on GOP funds for wine marketing in the future. The leading trade organisations in the sector have already joined forces to support Bormarketing Kht and the Wines of Hungary umbrella brand is also there for collective export promotional activities but their funds are insufficient at the moment. In order for our efforts to be effective a more active role should by played by the government.