On Friday, the European Union said it was lifting an import ban on Ukrainian grain in five member states after Kyiv committed to regulate shipments.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has cut off previously used Black Sea shipping lanes, resulting in the EU becoming a significant transit route and export destination for Ukrainian grain.
However, in May, the EU began banning grain imports to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, in order to safeguard domestic farmers who blamed the imports for a drop in local market prices.
The European Commission stated that existing measures will expire today at midnight.
“The market distortions in the five Member States bordering Ukraine have disappeared”, claimed the EU’s executive arm.
According to the commission, the decision was made after Kyiv agreed to implement measures including an export licensing system within 30 days in order to avoid grain surges.
Meanwhile, it stated that Ukraine would implement measures to regulate wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds exports in order to prevent disrupting markets in its EU neighbors.
The decision is expected to please Ukraine, which had pressed the EU to abandon the restrictions amid a diplomatic confrontation with Poland.
However, the Polish authorities have stated that they will extend the limitations unilaterally even if the EU sanctions expire.
The regulations enabled the products to continue traveling through the five nations but prevented them from being marketed on the local market.
The topic is especially contentious in Poland, where elections are scheduled for next month.
The present populist right-wing government of the Law and Justice party enjoys widespread support in agricultural areas.
The choking of grain exports from agricultural powerhouse Ukraine by Russia has raised global fears about grain supply.
In July, Moscow canceled a United Nations agreement to enable shipments via the Black Sea and it has subsequently increased its attacks on Ukrainian export facilities.
Since the invasion, the EU has strengthened other land and river channels used to export approximately 44 million tonnes of grain from Ukraine.
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