Romania intends to limit import of grain from Ukraine, but not ban it
19 April, 2023 Wednesday, 22:48 On April 19, the Minister of Agriculture of Romania, Petre Daea, held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Mykola Solsky, to discuss restrictions on grain imports
The Ministry of Agriculture of Romania informs about this.
In particular, during today's video meeting of ministers, Petre Daea and Mykola Solsky, discussed measures to limit the export of grain and oil crops – sunflower, rapeseed, which will be used to protect Romanian farmers.
Dea said that Romania will introduce additional security measures – sealing and monitoring of vehicles going to third countries.
"Romania, as a member state, supports the efforts of the European Commission to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and will continue to ensure the transit of grain from this country to third countries and traditional trade routes," the Romanian minister emphasised.
Also, from April 19, Romania will introduce control directly at customs, coordinated by ANSVSA, for all agri-food products. It includes sampling for verification in accordance with European legislation, rather than at the destination, as has been the case so far.
The Romanian side reported that it expects a response to the letter addressed to the European institutions by the Prime Ministers of the EU and the President of Bulgaria regarding the solution to the problems of farmers and the market.
The ministers agreed to hold negotiations on Friday, April 21.
- On March 29, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki said that Poland promised to introduce rules that would limit the inflow of Ukrainian grain to the country, explaining that it could destabilize the import market.
- Later, оn April 15, Poland approved a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products to Poland. The government emphasized that this decision does not change the country's position on support and friendship with Ukraine.
- In Romania, farmers are demanding a ban on grain imports and transit from Ukraine, threatening a nationwide protest.
- On April 16, media reported that Bulgaria was also considering refusing to import Ukrainian grain, after Hungary and Poland had already made this decision.
- On the same day, a spokesman for the European Commission said that unilateral actions by EU member states on trade were unacceptable.
- On April 18, it became known that Poland would receive EUR 30 million in aid from the EU amid the crisis with Ukrainian grain.
- After that, Warsaw decided to unblock the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products to European ports on April 21.
- Also on April 16, Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi held an online meeting with Hungarian Minister of Agriculture Istvan Nagy, who assured him that Hungary would not stop the transit of Ukrainian grain.
- On April 17, Slovakia became the third EU country to ban imports of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products.
- On April 19, Hungary banned the import of 25 types of agricultural products from Ukraine. The ban on the import of grain, flour, honey, oil and meat from Ukraine to Hungary will last until June 30 this year.