An immediate revision of EU regulations on imported products is necessary

The recent serious case that claimed human life also points to the need for a radical change in European agricultural policy. According to the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy, it must be demanded that EU regulations also apply to imported products. Consumers do the best if they always choose Hungarian products.

Due to the trade benefits granted by the European Commission to Ukraine, not only farmers, but also consumers are exposed to immediate danger

In recent months, the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that Ukrainian agricultural and food products arriving on the European Union market without inspection pose a serious risk not only from an economic point of view, but also from a food safety point of view. Nevertheless, the European Commission recently extended the duty-free status of Ukrainian products again.

Unfortunately, the wrong decision had serious consequences

According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), chicken meat infected with salmonella bacteria was recently placed on the EU and British markets, which caused the death of one person in addition to dozens of illnesses. According to EFSA data, a total of around 500 salmonella infections have been diagnosed in the community since September 2021, when the Ukrainian customs exemption began.

Hopefully, the case will also shock the bureaucrats sitting in the Brussels offices and finally force the European Commission to act

It demands even stricter animal health, environmental protection and animal welfare measures from the EU, and therefore from the Hungarian poultry farmers, while allowing the Ukrainian chicken meat produced under uncontrolled conditions and contaminated with deadly bacteria to enter without restriction. The current case also points to the need for a radical change in European agricultural policy. It must be demanded that EU regulations also apply to imported products. We cannot let economic interests override the sanctity of human life, Brussels must finally stand up for its own citizens instead of the Western powers.

The National Chamber of Agrarian Economy advises consumers not to fall for the discount offers of individual stores

Before buying, always make sure that the selected product – be it meat or any other food – is a Hungarian product, as this is the guarantee that it is strictly controlled, safe and traceable food. NAK asks the actors of the domestic retail sector to prioritize the safety of their customers instead of profit and to prefer domestic goods over imported products of uncertain origin and riskier from a food safety point of view.

NAK