Bulgaria temporarily bans Ukrainian food imports

The technical government of Bulgaria has imposed a temporary ban on the supply of Ukrainian grain and food to the country, Acting Prime Minister Galab Donev said. The ban does not apply to the transit of Ukrainian products.

“The main reason is that last year, due to the so-called corridors of solidarity, significant amounts of food remained in the country and the main production and trade chains were disrupted,” leads his words “Radio Bulgaria”.

If the situation does not change, Bulgarian businesses will face “serious consequences,” Donev explained the decision to ban. This “forced measure” is being introduced as European authorities are still working on an “adequate solution” to the problem.

The temporary ban will be in effect from April 24 to June 30, noted acting Minister of Agriculture Yavor Gechev, allowing the possibility of early lifting of restrictions if Brussels “responds quickly” to the problem.

The fact that the Bulgarian authorities are considering the possibility of introducing a temporary ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine became known 16 April. A day earlier, on April 15, Poland and Hungary restricted the import of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine until June 30. Since December 2022, local farmers have been complaining about an oversupply of Ukrainian products on the market. At the same time, the Minister of Development and Technology of Poland, Waldemar Buda, explained that the ban will also apply to transit through the country. April 18 Ukraine and Poland Deal on unblocking the transit of Ukrainian grain.

On April 17, the Slovak government decided temporarily stop import of grain and a number of food products from Ukraine, as well as to introduce a special transit regime for Ukrainian agricultural products.