Poland to tighten veterinary control on border with Ukraine

MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - The increased export of agricultural products from Ukraine to the European Union is squeezing Polish products from the European markets, and the results of veterinary inspections of Ukrainian agricultural exports' quality conducted at border crossings provide grounds to boost the presence of the Veterinary Service on the border, Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski said during a visit to the Ukrainian-Polish border on Sunday.

"Due to the large export of goods from Ukraine to EU countries, we are being squeezed from EU markets. In the context of the situation on the poultry meat market, the extensive export of one-day-old chickens from EU countries to Ukraine is something that puzzles us. There is a need for an in-depth analysis on the basis of detailed data," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Siekierski as saying in a statement circulated by the Polish Agriculture Ministry's press service on social media.

The minister also expressed concern about the excessive import of sugar, sunflower oil and grain products, including flour and corn, to the Polish market. The end recipients of the majority of such exports are Baltic countries - Lithuania and Latvia, he said.

"It can be presumed that the goods transported there will be returned to Poland," he said.

Siekierski said following his visit to the Ukrainian-Polish border in Hrebenne that phytosanitary and veterinary inspections carried out on Sunday highlighted the need to tighten veterinary inspections on the border.

"It is necessary to send additional veterinarians to work there," he said.