Slovakia expands list of agricultural goods prohibited for import from Ukraine, tightens transit rules

MOSCOW. Nov 30 (Interfax) - The Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, decided on Wednesday to extend the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine and tighten transit rules.

According to the decision, the import ban will also be extended to honey, sugar, malt and soybeans in addition to wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds. Meantime, permission for the transit of agricultural products from Ukraine through the territory of Slovakia remains, but the requirements for it are becoming more stringent - the goods will need to be sealed at customs.

Ukrainian media reported citing the Slovakia's Agriculture Ministry that the measures need to be taken, among other things, owing to the lack of a pan-European decision regarding Ukrainian goods.

Last week, Slovakia's Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Richard Takac said that Bratislava's unilateral ban on the import of Ukrainian grain will remain in force until the European Commission offers a systemic solution to the problem of the dominance of Ukrainian agricultural products in Europe.

As reported, the European Commission, under pressure from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria, on May 2 introduced a ban on the import of a number of Ukrainian agricultural crops, namely wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflowers, which was in effect until September 15. The said countries argued that under the conditions of the duty-free import into the EU that Ukrainian agricultural products end up with them and cause damage to the local agricultural sector.

After the restrictions were lifted, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia introduced unilateral bans. Poland has expanded the list of prohibited import products to include rapeseed cake and meal, as well as corn bran, wheat flour and derivative products. Hungary increased this list to 24 product items, though later removed cane and beet sugar from it).

Ukraine filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization in response, accusing the three countries of discriminatory treatment of Ukrainian agricultural products. According to the Ukrainian side, the dispute has paused for the time being in order to discuss the problem at the EU level.