site.btaBulgaria Prepares Indefinite Suspension of Imports of Number of Products from Ukraine

A suspension of imports from Ukraine of a number of products for an indefinite period of time is in the works, caretaker Minister of Agriculture Yavor Gechev said on Bulgarian National Television on Tuesday. 

He explained that on April 18, after a meeting with the grain producers requested by them in advance, it was decided to send a request from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Economy, because it is the responsible ministry for trade, for a temporary unilateral suspension of imports of a number of products originating from Ukraine. The legal and procedural things are being prepared for submitting a decision to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, Gechev further said.

"We believe that this will be a strong signal to Europe, because Europe cannot just listen to countries, it has to take measures," the Minister added.

According to him, Europe should listen to the voices of the more eastern countries. "Bulgarian farmers declare that they do not want subsidies, they want their markets. Unfair competition from Ukraine is being created," Gechev said.

He added that when the pressure on Bulgarian farmers eases, the import ban could be amended or changed. According to him, the problem is not only with wheat, but also with other crops such as sunflower. He pointed out that food imported from Ukraine is subject to additional phytosanitary control in the country to ensure its safe content.

Bulgaria stand in solidarity with Ukraine, but one cannot be at the expense of the other, the Minister said. He pointed out that three countries have already issued import suspension declarations.

"If we don't stop imports, everything that goes to the corridor to Poland and Hungary will end up in Romania and Bulgaria. That is, if we do not stop the equivalent measure with the other counterparts at the moment, it will effectively shift the corridors. I expect Brussels to understand that financial compensation is not the important thing in this case, but another solidarity is important, which is the same for all farmers," said Gechev.