Vegetable farmers have called for financial compensation amounting to SFr6.6 million ($8.2 million) for damages incurred over an E.coli infection across Europe.

The Swiss Association of Vegetable Farmers said the funds would help cover the costs of the vegetables, including cucumbers and tomatoes, destroyed.

The association added the market still had not fully recovered after a four-week slump in consumer demand.

The Federal Agriculture Office said it agreed with the calculations, but it was up to politicians to decide on the exact amount of compensation.

In June the government said it was ready to examine possible payments.

Nearly 50 people died and more than 4,100 were infected with the bacteria in Europe and North America following the discovery of the toxic strain of E.coli bacteria in May.

The Swiss authorities imposed a four-month ban on the import of certain seeds, beans and sprouts from Egypt.

Scientists have identified fenugreek seeds from Egypt as the most likely source of the food poisoning.

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