OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 139, 19 July 1996

HUNGARY BANS IMPORT OF LIVE ANIMALS FROM BALKANS. The Ministry of
Agriculture has banned the import of live animals and animal-derived
products from several countries in the Balkans for an indefinite period,
Hungarian media reported on 18 July. The ban comes in the wake of the
outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease in Albania, Greece, Macedonia,
Serbia, and Turkey. At the same time, customs authorities have begun
strict checks on food packages carried by tourists crossing the
Ukrainian, Romanian, and Serbian borders. They will confiscate products
that are potential carriers of viruses. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

HUNGARIAN POLICE CORRUPTION ON THE RISE. According to a recent police
report, corruption among policemen on duty is increasing, Magyar Hirlap
reported on 18 July. Policemen often fail to issue receipts or tend to
strike bargains when imposing fines for traffic violations. The
opposition has repeatedly voiced concern about worsening public
security, the growth of black market activities, and mafia operations.
-- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Jan Cleave