At the initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development, the government has brought a decision to pay Hungarian farmers who have suffered damages as a result of seeds contaminated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) compensation equal to 360 thousand forints per hectare.

The cabinet has assigned 4 billion forints for such compensation, from which farmers may receive 360 thousands forint of “fixed damage-covering allocation per hectare”. The government has calculated this sum on the basis of previous years’ average produce quantities and average crop prices. Farmers must lodge their compensation claims until September 30; applications will be considered in November and farmers may receive the sum in December. The government also ruled on the setting up of an inter-ministerial workgroup headed by the Ministry of Rural Development, which will make proposals for further government decisions designed to keep Hungary fully free of GMOs, with the co-operation of the Ministries of Public Administration and Justice, Foreign Affairs, National Economy and National Resources.

It is in Hungary’s national strategic interests that the country should remain free of GMOs, and this is also included in the new constitution. Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas has stressed this fact time and again both at home and abroad. No facts or circumstances may arise that could cause the Hungarian government to change its standpoint on this issue.

In addition to the harsh competition that is typical of agricultural markets, and the ever stricter quality control regulations, Hungary is able to retain its place as the fifth largest exporter of agricultural seeds on the world market because it necessitates the production of high-quality seeds of certified origin that are free from genetic modifications. This means a significant economic advantage for Hungary, and the government will continue to do everything in its power to keep the country’s agriculture free from GMOs through adhering to the operative legislation and ensuring such laws are fully complied with.

It is the basic interest of the country and all producers who make a living within the agricultural sector, that the good name of Hungarian agriculture should be preserved. Data from polls also prove that if possible, European consumers prefer not to purchase products derived from GMO cultivation and so are prepared to pay a higher price for Hungarian corn, but only while it is guaranteed free from GMOs.

Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas ordered the increased monitoring of GMOs on April 27 2011. The Plant Protection and Soil Conservation Directorate of the Central Agriculture Office (CAO) has performed 535 investigations and tests have proved positive for GMO contamination in the case of 4 batches of soya and 10 batches of corn.
In accordance with the law, the CAO has in all cases ordered the destruction of crops in those areas of land where GMO-contaminated seeds have been sown, because these stocks may easily become the source of further GMO contamination.

The official tests conducted in the CAO’s laboratories have conclusively proven the presence of GMOs in the corn and soya batches in question, and this has been confirmed by experts using various methods and through repeated testing. The results issued by the authority are incontrovertible and authoritative in accordance with Hungarian law.

The government, the Ministry of Rural Development and the relevant authorities will continue to act resolutely to combat the presence of GMO-contaminated seeds in Hungary.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)