Poland, Hungary and Slovakia said they would impose their own bans on Ukrainian grain following the European Commission’s decision to lift its restrictive measure.
Brussels announced on Friday that it would not extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports that applied to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. That measure expired Friday.
Imports of Ukrainian grain, including wheat and maize, were blocked from the territory of these five countries under an agreement reached with Brussels earlier this year. Only transit to other destinations was allowed.
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 Piotr Müller, spokesperson for the Polish government.
Hungary imposed an import ban on 24 Ukrainian products such as grains, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, certain meat products, honey and eggs.
The Slovak government decided to ban the import of four commodities — wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds — from Ukraine, Prime Minister Ľudovít Ódor said on Friday evening.
“We have to prevent excessive pressure on the Slovak market in order to remain fair to our farmers as well. At the same time, our step is a reaction to the similar procedure of Poland and Hungary,” Ódor said.
