Romania has established conditions for the import of Ukrainian grain

According to the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the Romanian government has established rules for the import of four agricultural products from Ukraine. As Romanian Minister Florin Barbu argues on the official website of the Ministry of Agriculture, the resolution adopted by the government "protects Romanian farmers against grain imports from Ukraine."

Based on the mechanism agreed with Ukraine, we are establishing a procedure according to which we allow the import of wheat, corn, sunflower and soybeans only on the basis of a license issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, wrote the head of the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture.

Import-justified and grain tested

Published explanations show that Romanian farmers and processors interested in purchasing Ukrainian grain will first have to prove that such imports are necessary to replenish stocks. Their applications will be considered by a special commission. The imported grain will have to meet quality standards confirmed by certificates of the Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine Agency of Romania, based on the analysis of collected samples.

"I cannot allow products affected by diseases and pests or products that are not 100% safe for consumption to enter the Romanian market," assures the Romanian Minister of Agriculture. New rules and procedures have already been presented and discussed with the Ukrainian authorities.

Romania together with Moldova

This week, the agriculture ministers of Romania and Moldova are also expected to agree on "a new practical mechanism for issuing licenses and supplying grain products from the Republic of Moldova."

At the same time, the Romanian government does not rule out that the list of products subject to licensing for import may be changed, e.g. extended. This issue will be the subject of talks scheduled this week with Romanian processors and farmers' organizations.