Hungary calls on EU to take urgent action in hog market

Urgent EU measures are needed to improve the situation in the hog market, according to 13 European Union member states, including Hungary.

Hungary’s agriculture ministry noted that at a video conference of EU agriculture ministers on Monday, Zsolt Feldman, state secretary for agriculture and rural development, highlighted the plight of Hungary’s hog sector due to restrictive measures in connection with both the coronavirus pandemic and African swine fever.

Domestic sales and exports have been severely affected, while pork prices have fallen sharply in parallel with a steep rise in feed prices. Both producers and processors are suffering as a result, Feldman told the meeting.

Whereas the ministry has provided temporary support, prices are too low and the sector could end up in serious trouble without urgent measures taken, he said, calling on the European Commission to act immediately.

Currently the commission is closely monitoring the situation on the hog market and does not intend to take urgent action for the time being, the ministry said.