Ukrainian govt starts accepting applications for exporting crops to Bulgaria

MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government is beginning to accept applications for sunflower, rapeseed, corn, and wheat exports to Bulgaria, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.

"Minister Nikolai Solsky and Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev agreed upon a procedure for exporting some types of agricultural produce at their recent online meeting. In particular, they agreed an export verification procedure for exports of four crops to Bulgaria. These are rapeseed, corn, wheat, and sunflower," it said.

The procedure envisions the licensing of exports of the four crops following bilateral consultations preceding such exports, it said.

The two ministers also agreed to carefully monitor shipments of agricultural produce from one country to the other.

As reported, Bulgaria has authorized licensed imports of Ukrainian sunflower, rapeseed, corn, and wheat since December 1, 2023.

The Bulgarian online publication bntnews.bg said that, at his talks with Solsky, Vatev insisted on including powdered milk, frozen raspberries, and honey in the list of exported products subject to verification.

"I agreed with the Ukrainian minister that he should inform us of every contract with Ukraine [on shipments] to Bulgaria, [including] who receives the shipment here and who ships it from there. We can't set prices or block a transaction, but when we see that this distorts our market and our products don't sell, we may intervene," bntnews.bg quoted Vatev as saying.