Hungary: Government fighting for fair competition conditions for beekeepers

For the export-oriented Hungarian honey sector and the livelihood of beekeepers, it is a key issue that the prevailing unfair conditions of competition on European markets should be leveled out again between honey products produced within the EU and those produced outside the EU, said the State Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture. Zsolt Feldman explained that two thirds of the 15-30 thousand tons of domestic honey production is exported to Western Europe, hence it is very important to have fair competition conditions on the EU market. These are not ensured today, with Hungarian beekeepers exporting 10-20 thousand tonnes of honey a year competing with 160-190 thousand tonnes of imports from third countries outside Europe. The European economy’s weakness is being felt in EU honey consumption, and demand for lower-quality and cheaper honey blends has increased, the State Secretary said. “The most important task is therefore to continue the ...