"The zero tolerance proclaimed by the Government is valid for all GMOs, and accordingly the Ministry of Rural Development will continue to do everything possible in future to maintain Hungary's GMO-free status", the Ministry's Parliamentary State Secretary Gyula Budai declared at a professional forum held in the Parliament building.

At the parliamentary open day organised n the subject, entitled "In Focus: The Use of GMOs in Agriculture", Mr. Budai stressed that the Ministry would prevent the cultivation of genetically modified maize occurring in Hungary.

The statement is important because the European Union is expected to soon permit the cultivation of 1507 genetically modified maize, and the validity of the permit will extend to Hungary. This is one of the reasons why a clear and honest professional debate on GMOs is so important, Mr. Budai said.

The State Secretary also drew attention to the fact that the European Union's decision-making process with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) doe not work properly, as is indicated by the fact that out of the 28 member states only 5 voted in favour of the Commission's proposal to permit the cultivation of 1507 GM maize, and four of those country's do not cultivate maize at all. It is Mr. Budai's opinion that the Commission proposal on allowing the cultivation of 1507 GM maize was the result of strong lobbying on the part of economically interested parties.

Mr. Budai pointed out that Hungary's Constitution also guarantees that the country must remain GMO-free. Hungary has been fighting for years to ensure that decisions on GMOs can be made within the scope of authority of individual member states, rather than being a central decision on the part of the EU, he explained. Hungary is at the forefront of this struggle compared to other member states and has already achieved results, such as the Hungarian moratoriums on the cultivation of MON 810 maize and Amflora potatoes, he continued.

Quoting the introductory words of Chairman of the Parliament's Agricultural Committee Sándor Font MP (Fidesz), Gyula Budai pointed out that the first parliamentary decree deciding on the country's GMO-free status was declared in 2006 with the agreement of all five parliamentary parties.

At the event, agriculture expert and Director of Vasvár-based Karintia Ltd Zoltán Bene said, amongst other things, that the conference is also relevant because Hungary needs some 900 thousand tons of soy every year, while the country is currently only capable of producing around ten percent of that quantity. The current 40 thousand hectare cultivation area could be increased to 100 thousand hectares within a short time. This is significant because around 90 percent of the soy beans and flour that is imported into Hungary is genetically modified, he continued.

Vice-President of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture Imre Hubai told Hungarian news agency MTI that preserving Hungary's GMO-free status is so important to Hungarian agriculture because it represents added value. GMO-free foods can be more easily marketed and represent a market advantage to Hungary, he added.

(MTI)