The Ministry of Rural Development amended its statute on crop seeds in record time so that the agricultural authority may act even more efficiently to cleanse areas contaminated with GMOs.

According to the statute amendment, the sale and cultivation of all GMO contaminated crop seeds is now illegal. In the case of seeds produced in Hungary the producer is responsible for keeping seeds GMO free, while in other cases the primary importer may be held accountable. The Central Agriculture Office will quarantine the crops grown from contaminated seeds, as well as the crops found in the buffer area around them, and it will then be the responsibility of the producer to destroy these in such a way that the contamination is unable to spread further. If this does not occur then the Central Agriculture Office may destroy the contaminated crops itself. The statue came into force today.

The Government decided on Wednesday to act as forcefully as possible against companies selling seeds contaminated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and therefore requested the amendment of the Penal Code and the relevant legislation in order to ensure severe punishment and a strong deterrent. It is the determined goal of the Ministry of Rural Development to work hand-in-hand with seed producers, seed marketers and crop producers to settle the critical situation with the least possible damages. The Ministry of Rural Development is investigating how those responsible for the damages caused may be made accountable as swiftly as possible.

So far, crops growing on 940 hectares have had to be destroyed and a further 2500 hectares are to be deep ploughed.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)