Poland, Hungary and Slovakia impose their own grain bans in Ukraine after EU measures are lifted – POLITICO

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia said they would impose their own bans on Ukrainian grain following the European Commission’s decision to lift its restrictive measures.

Brussels announced on Friday that it would not extend the ban on Ukrainian grain imports that applied to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. This measure expired on Friday.

Imports of Ukrainian grain, including wheat and corn, have been blocked from the territory of these five countries under an agreement reached with Brussels earlier this year. Only transit to other destinations was permitted.

The measure was put in place to protect farmers in the five countries from an influx of cheap produce from their war-torn neighbor.

“We do not agree with the decision of the European Commission and in the interest of Polish farmers and consumers we are introducing national measures,” said Polish government spokesperson Piotr Müller.

Hungary has imposed an import ban on 24 Ukrainian products such as cereals, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, some meat products, honey and eggs.

The Slovak government has decided to ban the import of four products from Ukraine: wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor said on Friday evening.

“We must avoid excessive pressure on the Slovak market in order to remain fair also to our farmers. At the same time, our approach is a reaction to the similar procedure in Poland and Hungary,” Ódor said.