After discussing Hungarian- U.S. agricultural relations during a
visit to New York on Wednesday, Graf said the issue of GMO
production and trade in Hungary forms the most contentious part of
the farm agenda with the U.S.
"There has been no advancement on this issue between Hungary and
the U.S.," he told MTI after he addressed the UN commission on
sustainable development in New York on Wednesday.
Hungary’s green lobby is adamant about keeping the country
GMO-free and other groups see the economic potential in selling
GMO-free products at slightly higher prices on western markets.
Graf said there is some hope that Hungary will be removed from
the U.S. import ban for pork, poultry and beef after U.S. veterinary
experts visited Hungarian firms to check that their products were
free of harm from CSF, bird flue and BSE.
A three-year promotion campaign for Hungarian wines was launched
in the U.S. during Graf’s visit and he said wines from the Villany
(S) and Tokaj (NE) regions were on tasted. He added that plans were
to expand the selection in Hungary’s wine export, currently at
800,000 hectolitres or one third of the total bottled annually.
Graf is on a five-day visit to the United States and will visit
Chicago on Thursday.
(Source: MTI)
