"Pesticide-contaminated and genetically modified grain from Ukraine endangers consumers. When will the government finally protect farmers?"- the Austrian Freedom Party asked.

Tempers are running high in European Union member states over Brussels’s intervention which has led to cheap, contaminated, sub-EU-quality Ukrainian grain flooding the market and ruining farmers, who have to comply with extremely strict standards and regulations and can’t compete.

„Why doesn’t the government protect our consumers and farmers? For months, we have been warning about the pesticide-contaminated and genetically modified grain from Ukraine. Other countries are leading the way and have already banned imports to protect their consumers and agriculture. This is about health and consumer protection,”

said Peter Schmiedlechner, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) politician responsible for agricultural affairs. The politician also pointed out that the imported grain is not only contaminated with pesticides, but often with fungi, as well, which is also dangerous for human consumption.

„Inaction happening at all levels. Health Minister Johannes Rauch is supposed to be in charge of people’s health on the one hand, and of food labeling on the other. When will they finally wake up?”

Mr Schmiedlechner demanded. In FPO’s view, only an import ban on Ukrainian grain and a comprehensive and consistent designation of origin in labelling can protect consumers. This is the only way to ensure protection from pesticide-tainted grain and the only way for consumers to know where their food is coming from, the right-wing party believes.

As is well known, Ukraine clashed with, among others, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, because these member states have extended the ban on Ukraine grain recently lifted by the European Commission.