Hungary clashes with neighbors and Poland over FMD restrictions

Hungary retaliates against five countries for FMD import bans

Late last Friday, Polish and Hungarian news sources reported on a new decree by the Hungarian government banning the import of even-toed and uneven-toed ungulate livestock animals and animal products, byproducts and animal feed from Poland, Croatia, Czechia, Slovenia and Romania. The decree (Governmental decree 94/2025. (V. 8.)) was published in the Hungarian Gazette on May 8, and entered into force on May 10.

The decree is Hungary’s answer to the countries’ import restrictions due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Hungary. The text of the decree suggests that these countries introduced unlawful trade restrictions and caused international disruptions under the pretext of the epidemic, which is why Hungary imposed equivalent mirror measures in response, news sources add.

The Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and several industrial organizations and pressure groups had already stated in March that the import restrictions imposed on Hungarian meat exports were unlawful and unjustified. Romania was the first to introduce such measures, followed by the United Kingdom, then several neighboring countries and Poland. In March, Minister of Agriculture István Nagy publicly stated Hungary’s position, which is that all member states must revoke the import restrictions previously imposed under national authority. (The Hungarian government was referring to the EU Commission’s interim emergency measure in response to the outbreaks – See our report here).

The news sources also quote Polish news portal Rzeczpospolita which states that Poland’s meat industry is especially critically affected by the new measure, as Hungary is one of the country’s most important export partners. Polish companies are also requesting the intervention of the Polish ambassador in Hungary, as the decision also affects shipments that are currently in transit, the portal writes.

The worst apricot harvest in history

Hungary is experienceing its worst apricot harvest since the turn of the millenium, writes Agrárszektor.hu, but it might just be the worst in history. The projected yield will be between 2 and 4 thousand tons, which, in contrast, is barely 10-20% of the annual average from before 2018.

Before 2018, Hungary’s annual apricot harvest typically ranged between 20 and 35 thousand tons, depending on the year. But since then, late spring frosts have severely impacted crop reliability, making apricot production increasingly unpredictable and risky.

In frost-hit bad years—like 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023—harvests dropped to just 6 to 8 thousand tons nationwide. In contrast, good years still brought in over 20 thousand tons, such as in 2019 (37 thousand tons) and 2022 (24.3 thousand tons).

This year’s climate disasters were especially frustrating, as well as devastating. Despite last year’s unusually early season, prolonged summer drought, and multiple heatwaves, this spring brought an unexpectedly strong apricot bloom. The first wave of frost hit in mid-March but only affected certain areas. Then, on April 5, a powerful cold front swept in, bringing Arctic air over the region.

Temperatures generally dropped to between -2 and -6°C, but in some fruit-growing areas it fell as low as -6 to -8°C, cold enough to cause severe damage across most fruit varieties.

Even in the areas which have been the least hit by the cold snap, crop damages might be as high as 40-50%. Throughout the rest of the country however, 95 to 100% of the apricot harvest has been lost.

Last week we reported that the Minister for Agriculture declared the spring frosts to be a force majeure circumstance.

Fruit growers facing disaster, three-quarters of all fruits were wiped out

Agrárszektor.hu also interviewd Ferenc Apáti, head of FruitVeB, the biggest fruit and vegetable grower organization in the country. The frost waves in April and early May have caused damage of a scale not seen in decades, said Mr. Apáti. Around 90% of Hungary’s fruit-growing regions were affected by the April cold snap. Despite farmers’ best efforts to prepare, the frost on May 10 wreaked total destruction in many orchards.

Early-blooming fruit varieties such as apricots, peaches, and cherries suffered the most. The situation is particularly dire in the eastern counties, where the early May frost hit with exceptional severity.

“We’re now seeing that 80 to 90% of the apricot, peach, cherry, and plum crops have been lost,” Ferenc Apáti told the portal. “Apples and sour cherries may fare slightly better, but even there, the damage is significant. Overall, roughly three-quarters of Hungary’s entire fruit yield has been wiped out.”

For many Hungarian fruit growers, this year’s frost damage means not just a partial loss, but the complete collapse of their harvest, leaving some farms with virtually zero income for the season.

The real challenge, the expert warns, is survival: Farmers may have to endure 12 to 15 months without revenue, while still covering ongoing maintenance costs like pruning, pest control, and machinery upkeep.

Peach production is among the hardest hit. Already in decline over the past decade due to high labor demands and persistent spring frosts, peach-growing areas have shrunk by half since 2010, now covering just 2,390 hectares nationwide. Labor shortages and unpredictable yields have pushed many growers to the brink, calling into question the long-term viability of the crop in Hungary.

High onion prices spurred production, but challenges lie ahead

Onion farming is on the rise in Hungary, reports Agrárágazat.hu. In 2024, the total farmland area used for onion farming was 1,800 hectares, with a total yield of around 90 thousand tons.

For the first time in years, Hungary’s domestic onion production in 2024 came close to meeting national consumption levels, which is a rare achievement given the sector’s outdated technology and limited storage capacity, the portal writes. Experts caution that the country will still need to rely on imports, and local produce remains too expensive for export markets.

Many farmers switched to onions last year, lured by soaring prices in the 2023 season. A significant portion of these new growers previously cultivated crops like watermelon. But experts note that onion farming is only truly profitable with modern equipment and reliable irrigation systems.

Still, with the right tools and expertise, onion farming yields more. In 2020, average yields hovered around 30 to 33 tons per hectare. Today, most farmers produce around 50 tons, and the most experienced growers have pushed that figure to 65 or even 70 tons per hectare.

An adjustment in prices is expected soon, as last year’s unusually high onion prices in Hungary were well above the EU average. Across the common market, onion prices tend to be significantly lower, which could put pressure on domestic markets going forward.

On the production side, technological limitations also remain a hurdle. The traditional Makó variety, which was once prized for its rich flavor and long shelf life, has declined in popularity due to its low yield and vulnerability to fusarium basal rot. In its place, farmers have turned to high-performing hybrid onions, mainly of Italian and Dutch origin, although Hungarian-bred varieties also have a presence in the market.

The changed climate is yet another challenge. Since onions require a lot of water, 90% of the domestic onion farms are irrigated but in times of water scarcity, even irrigation can’t make up for the lack of rainfall.

Higher fines for environmental violations to be introduced

Significantly tougher environmental penalties will come into force in Hungary starting May 2025, according to Trademagazin.hu. Amendments to regulations covering environmental permits, air and noise protection, waste management, and surface water conservation will allow for far larger fines to be imposed on non-compliant companies.

Firms that are operating without the required environmental or integrated permits (or deviating from them) could face fines of up to €5 million. Stricter penalties will also apply for breaches of air and noise regulations. Violations of waste management rules may result in fines of up to €1.25 million and on-the-spot penalties are expected to become more common.

To protect water quality, companies that discharge wastewater into public sewer systems will face doubled fines under the new regulations. Sanctions for waste management violations will also be more severe.

In cases where fines exceed €125 thousand, company names and details will be made public via the Administrative Sanctions Register and on the website of the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, businesses found guilty of serious environmental violations may have their operations suspended for the duration of the infraction, Trademagazin.hu adds.