Filipovic told a news conference in the northeastern town of Virovitica that vegetable producers in Croatia were on the verge of collapse as vegetable sales and consumption were affected by the Escherichia coli-related infection in western Europe.
The federation's deputy head, Zlatko Zagorac, told the news conference that the reduced vegetable consumption had caused some HRK 70 million in losses, although the Croatian Agricultural Chamber had previously estimated the damage at HRK 15 million.
The federation has asked Agriculture Minister Petar Cobankovic to ensure compensation from European funds and from the Croatian state budget, Zagorac said, adding that the answer was that there was no money for that purpose.
If vegetable growers should comply with European Union regulations, although Croatia is still not an EU member, then it would be fair that we receive such help as has been provided by some European countries to their vegetable producers, Zagorac said.