Illustration - Photo: wikipedia

Hungarian farmers protest EU-Mercosur trade deal

The Hungarian Agriculture Chamber (NAK) is joining a campaign by COPA-COGECA, Europe's biggest interest group for farmers, against a free trade agreement the European Union has negotiated with South American trade bloc Mercosur.

NAK told MTI that in its present form the agreement could bring a flood of food products of unknown origin into Europe and put already vulnerable European farmers at a disadvantage.

NAK said the agreement would clear the way for the import of sugar and ethanol produced in factories that do not meet European standards. It added that Brazilian farmers use 27 insecticides and pesticides that are banned in Europe.

Talks on ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade deal were re-started after Portugal took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on January 1.

Leave a Reply