Istvan Nagy sent a letter to the European Commission regarding this subject. The minister suggested that the coronavirus crisis has caused a fall in demand and resulted in excess supply in some foodstuffs, such as poultry products, adding that the sector s problems are currently exacerbated by imports originating from third countries.

In his letter addressed to European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan, Istvan Nagy says: the pandemic-related restrictions have had a particularly negative impact on players of the tourism, catering and hospitality industry (HORECA), resulting in a drop in demand for certain foodstuffs, such as poultry products.

The minister adds that at the same time, significant amounts of imported products are arriving in the EU s internal market from third countries, resulting in increased accumulated stocks and an excess supply in some sectors. This excess supply has a negative impact in particular on the poultry product chain, and puts producers in a difficult situation, thereby jeopardising the very foundations of the sector. Istvan Nagy stresses that in order to prevent long-term losses in the poultry sector, further swift action is required, which necessitates an urgent review by the Commission of the conditions attached to imports originating from third coutries.

The minister believes that the temporary adjustment of the quantity of third country imports could result in immediate relief on the poultry market, contributing to the enhancement of the flexibility of internal production on the long haul.