Favourable changes to the SZÉP Card scheme,
extension of the notification obligation for strategically important building materials
At the end of December 2021, the Hungarian Government allowed spending of the cash balance on SZÉP Cards catering sub-account to buy food products that require cooking and extended the interoperability of sub-accounts until the end of the year. The notification obligation for strategic building materials, which was due to expire at the beginning of this year, was extended until the end of June.
Changes to the SZÉP Card scheme
According to Government Decree 781/2021 (XII. 24.), the balance of the SZÉP Card's catering sub-account can be spent on food products during the period from 1 February to 31 May 2022. At the same time, Government Decree 784/2021 (XII. 24.) extended the possibility to switch between the three sub-accounts (accommodation, catering, leisure) until 31 December 2022, so that in practice food products can be purchased from any of the sub-accounts.
The total balance of each of the three sub-accounts can be spent to buy food products, regardless of when it was transferred by the employer.
Obviously, the services which the SZÉP Card scheme was originally intended to be used for (accommodation, catering and leisure services) can still be paid from any sub-account, and the sub-accounts will remain interoperable until 31 December 2022.
It is worth noting that the definition of food products excludes alcoholic beverages and tobacco and processed tobacco substitutes.
Notification obligation for the export of strategically important building materials
By Government Decree 783/2021 (XII. 24.) the obligation to notify the export of raw materials and other products of strategic importance for the security of supply in the construction industry was extended until 30 June 2022.
There are no changes to the list of the building materials involved. The complete list can be found in Annex 1 of Government Decree 402/2021 (VII.8.)
6. January, 2022
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