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Hungary, as a member of the European Union (EU), applies EU regulations to the imports of agricultural products. U.S. export certification requirements for most products destined for the EU have been harmonized. Products not yet harmonized are subject to national regulations. Competent Hungarian authorities may need to be consulted, on a case-by-case basis, to address import requirements for some minor categories of non-harmonized products.

Hungary is a member of the European Union (EU) and follows EU directives and regulations, including those relating to the importation of food products. This report provides an overview of food laws in force in Hungary that cover areas that are not yet harmonized.

Hungary is one of the strongest opponents of transgenic engineering in the European Union. Maintaining the country’s GE-free status is still a government priority. However, Hungary’s scientific and agricultural organizations and breeding and research institutions are speaking out in support of non-transgenic genome editing. In the case of an enabling legislative environment in the EU, the country would be open to adopting innovative biotechnologies.

There is no legal impediment to the use of biotechnology in El Salvador. Genetically engineered (GE) corn field trials were successfully completed. Also, the Ministry of Environment completed the regulatory framework for the safe use and commercialization of GE products. A new government administration that took office in June 2019, has shown interest in biotechnology and how it can help advance agricultural competitiveness in El Salvador.

In El Salvador there is no specific food law. However, the Ministry of Health’s (MINSAL) Health Code is used to enforce food safety for all food and beverage products. MINSAL is in charge of food and beverage product registration.

This report provides examples for the major export certificates and other documents required by the government of El Salvador for U.S. exports of food and agricultural products. Please note, El Salvador’s import requirements change frequently, and are often subject to discretionary decisions at the point of entry.

The Salvadoran HRI sector is having a better performance in 2022 as the tourism sector is recovering. Euromonitor reports that Salvadorans spent about $2.1 billion in the Hotels/Catering category during 2021. According to recent reports by the Ministry of Tourism, El Salvador received 1.1 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2022, representing a 92 percent recovery compared to the same period in 2019.

The retail sector in El Salvador has remained strong and stable, with new outlets opening and new online shopping options. Super Selectos is the largest supermarket chain, followed by Walmart which in January 2022 announced it is considering the sale of its outlet stores in El Salvador. Imports of U.S. consumer-oriented products reached a record-high of $267 million in 2021.

El Salvador’s coffee production is expected to reach 639,000 sixty-kg bags in marketing year (MY) 2021/22. The Salvadoran coffee sector continues to struggle mainly due to low international prices, climate change, continued coffee leaf rust, and a lack of a long-term strategy that has hindered investment at the farm level. The MY2022/23 crop is forecast to slightly decrease to 619,000 sixty-kg bags.

Improving international prices have eased the financial pressure exerted by the COVID-19 pandemic on the sugar sector, but inflationary concerns have led the government to include sugar among the products with import duties reduced to zero percent for a one-year period.

El Salvador’s food manufacturing sector has kept a fast pace in terms of increasing production levels. Food manufacturers took the challenging environment caused by the pandemic as an opportunity to evolve and add new items to their food lines.

This report provides initial analysis and a courtesy translation of El Salvador’s Transitory Law to Combat Price Inflation in Basic Products, published March 11, 2022, with an import duties comparison added for reference.