EC adopts exceptional and temporary preventive measures on limited imports from Ukraine to Bulgaria and 4 other countries

The European Commission said on May 2 it was restricting imports of wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds from Ukraine from May 2 until June 5 to ease oversupply of these crops in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, Reuters reported.

Within the specified period, wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed originating in Ukraine can continue to be released for free circulation in all the Member States of the European Union other than the five frontline Member States: Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

The products can continue to circulate in or transit via these five Member States by means of a common customs transit procedure or go to a country or territory outside the EU, Brussels says.

In parallel, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia agreed to lift unilateral entry bans on Ukrainian grain they imposed to protect local farmers.

Brussels has provided them with a €100 million aid package and has not ruled out extending the restrictions on those Ukrainian products beyond June 5th if the exceptional circumstances persist.