The government of Slovakia has banned the import of grains and other farm products from Ukraine on Monday, but will keep borders open for transit to third markets.
According to Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlcan, restrictive measures to ban grain imports imposed by Poland at the weekend had led to the Slovak ban. “Poland has adopted very strict bans and we thus had to react to protect the Slovak market in those farm products and foods where we have self-sufficiency,” he said. “It is a measure for the protection of the Slovak agro-food sector and mainly the health of consumer.”
Slovakia banned the distribution of a batch of Ukrainian grain last week after it detected higher-than-allowed levels of pesticides in the shipment. Vlcan did not present the full list of farm products and food, but a proposal for Monday’s cabinet meeting included wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, sugar beet and sugar, wine, fruits and vegetables, sunflower seeds, rapeseed, honey, and others.
According to reuters.com, the government said it would continue to allow transit of Ukrainian grains and other products under an EU initiative to help Ukraine export its production despite the Russian invasion.
Ukraine seeks reopening of food transit via Poland
Kyiv will aim to secure the re-opening of food and grain transit via Poland as a “first step” at talks in Warsaw on Monday, April 17, Ukraine’s agriculture minister said, after Poland and Hungary announced bans on some imports from Ukraine.
Some Black Sea ports were blocked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and large quantities of Ukrainian grain – which is cheaper than that produced in the European Union – ended up staying in Central European countries because of logistical bottlenecks. This hit prices and sales for local farmers.
Source: datamarnews.com
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