The International Trade Council wishes to inform its members and relevant stakeholders that Hungary has implemented a temporary ban on imports of honey, certain meat products, and grains from Ukraine, effective immediately until June 30, 2023. This decision follows the European Commission's announcement of emergency preventive measures for wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, and rapeseed imports from Ukraine.
The Hungarian government has included a total of 25 agricultural products in the ban, with cereals, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, flour, oil, honey, and certain meat products being the most significant. Hungary's Agriculture Minister, Istvan Nagy, has called for an expansion of EU-wide import restrictions to encompass additional products such as eggs, honey, and poultry.
Hungary will continue to permit the transit of Ukrainian grain, overseeing the departure of such shipments in a controlled manner. This action supports Hungarian farmers' interests and has prompted the European Commission to consider further measures.
The temporary ban comes as a response to bottlenecks trapping millions of tons of grains in countries bordering Ukraine, forcing local farmers to compete with an influx of cheap Ukrainian imports. This situation arose as a result of Ukraine's Black Sea ports being inaccessible for grain export due to Russia's invasion.
The International Trade Council will closely monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. We encourage all members and stakeholders to stay informed and adapt to these temporary measures as needed.
