"The Ministry of Rural Development is aiming to support an increase in pig stocks and in the domestic consumption of Hungarian pork through the introduction of the Outstanding Quality Pork (KMS) trademark" Deputy State Secretary for Agricultural Economy Zsolt Feldman announced in Budapest.

At a press conference organised to launch the Waster campaign to promote Hungarian pork, Mr. Feldman said that the Ministry's goal is to double current pig stocks of 3 million. There were some 5 million pigs in Hungary in 2002, and in the year of the regime change in 1990, pig stock in Hungary numbered around 10 million.

DownloadPhoto: Csaba Pelsőczy

According to Mr. Feldman, Hungary's annual per capita pork consumption of 25 kilograms is too low.

Explaining the timing for the introduction of the new trademark, he explained that Easter traditions mean that people in Hungary tend to show more interest in pork and pork products at this time of year. The goal of the campaign is to encourage consumers to buy good quality pork all year round, not just around Easter. This is why the Outstanding Quality Pork trademark is being introduced, which guarantees high quality and monitoring to consumers. The first products to bear the new trademark are currently being audited with the involvement of the Animal and Meat Interprofessional Organisation and Product Council (VHT).

Consumers can expect to encounter the new trademark in the shops before Easter, he added.

DownloadPhoto: Csaba Pelsőczy

According to Mr. Feldman, the quality of Hungarian pork is usually better than that of its rivals. Pork produced in Hungary shows a level of quality that in many instances represents added value that provide a competitive advantage, thanks to Hungarian grain-based feeding traditions, the knowledge and experience of Hungarian farmers and the expert knowledge of the Hungarian meat processing industry. The Outstanding Quality Pork trademark aims to guarantee these values in the long term.

Dietician Katalin Ihász explained at the press conference that the consumption of pork in Hungary has decreased significantly in recent years as a result of modern nutrition practices according to which consumers now favour poultry and other white meats. Red meats, including pork, have several advantageous qualities, however, such as being high in Vitamin D and Iron. Accordingly, providing they are cooked in a healthy way without too much fat, their daily consumption is recommended.

(MTI, Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)