site.btaDeputy Agriculture Minister Yanchev Highlights Need for Stronger EU Protection against Unfair Rice Imports

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Yanislav Yanchev took part in the opening ceremony of the first edition of the International Rice Festival “Risò”, held in Vercelli, Italy, this week. The festival brought together agriculture ministers from the eight rice-producing EU member states, along with academic experts and industry representatives, the Bulgarian Agriculture Ministry reported Friday. 

Yanchev participated in the high-level panel discussion “Rice, Food Security, and European Policies,” where he underscored the urgency of implementing effective protection mechanisms for European rice producers facing unfair competition from third-country imports.

“Bulgaria is a net exporter of rice, with our primary markets being the Balkan countries, including Türkiye and Romania,” Yanchev noted. “However, rising imports from non-EU countries such as Myanmar and China are placing significant pressure on EU rice prices. We believe that automatic safeguard mechanisms must become standard in all EU trade agreements to preserve the competitiveness of European farmers and uphold the high standards we champion.”

He stressed that European rice farmers face higher production costs due to strict environmental, social, and health regulations, while imported rice is often produced under far looser conditions. Yanchev described this as one of the most serious challenges confronting the European rice sector.

Deputy Minister Yanchev also expressed support for new EU-led initiatives aimed at protecting and expanding rice exports to international markets. He emphasized that in the current climate of global competition, the European Union must not only protect its internal production but also proactively create opportunities for international market access.

As part of the discussions, Yanchev voiced Bulgaria’s support for the creation of a new “EURice” alliance among EU rice-producing countries, aimed at strengthening the global position of European rice through cooperation and coordinated action.

During his visit, the Deputy Minister toured the exhibition stands of European rice producers and processors, showcasing innovation and quality across the sector.