Polish inspection rejects 23.97 tonnes of Ukrainian millet

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - The Polish Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) in Rzeszow has banned the distribution of 23.967 tonnes of Ukrainian millet in Poland.

The batch was rejected due to the presence of live and dead pests, and the decision was implemented immediately, Ukrainian media said, citing the inspection's statement on a social network.

As reported, IJHARS barred a 22.59-tonne batch of flax seeds and two batches of malting barley totaling 46 tonnes from Ukraine from entering the Polish market in May due to the presence of live and dead pests.

In April, a 7.3-tonne batch of Ukrainian ice cream cones was denied access to the Polish market due to incorrect labeling. Two shipments of sponge cakes with a total weight of 10.55 tonnes from Ukraine were blocked, in addition to three shipments of Ukrainian bagels with a total weight of 5.34 tonnes barred on April 9. Before that, three shipments of Ukrainian ice cream with a total weight of 8.48 tonnes were seized in Lublin due to its defrosting.

The Polish inspection reported the largest ever fine of 1.5 million zlotys (about $380,000) imposed in early April on an importing company for bringing 11,500 tonnes of technical rapeseed and feed wheat into the Polish market from Ukraine. The shipment was branded counterfeit, as the products were used for food. Additionally, the inspection barred a 57.66-tonne batch of Ukrainian tomato paste because of mold.

IJHARS Chief Inspector Przemysław Rzodkiewicz said in March that 1.4% of Ukrainian products inspected at the border over the past year had been rejected.