Farmers will import Ukrainian grain in Romania, and only if necessary

The Ministers of Agriculture of Romania and Ukraine, Florin Barbu and Mykola Solsky, have agreed on a new mechanism, according to which four types of Ukrainian cereals can be imported into Romania again.

The new system will oblige Ukrainian and Romanian farmers to obtain grain licenses, reports Europa Libera Romania.

After four months of blocking the import of wheat, corn, sunflower and rapeseed from Ukraine, Barbu and Solsky agreed with the decision proposed by the European Commission, which will allow the import of Ukrainian grain to resume.

It is about the licensing system of exporting companies and importers.

According to Minister Florin Barbu, after evening negotiations on September 18, Ukraine adopted a government act that allows the export of wheat, corn, sunflower and rapeseed to Romania only on the basis of a license.

Export licenses for Ukrainian companies will come into effect in 30 days, during which time Romania will also develop a clear licensing procedure for Romanian farmers and processors.

Another agreed rule is that only farmers and processors, not middlemen, make imports.

“A farmer who wants to import, for example, 1,000 tons of sunflower seeds from Ukraine, must prove that he does not have this amount of grain and that his animals cannot live without it,” commented an informant of Europa Libera, close to the discussions between the ministers of the two countries

The Romanian authorities will also check the stocks of farmers who ask to import grain from Ukraine.

Another condition is obtaining a quality certificate. The farmer will have to take a sample of the imported goods to the National Veterinary and Food Safety Authority , where he will receive a certificate attesting to the quality of the produce.