Bulgarian, Ukrainian agriculture ministers agree on licensing system for Ukrainian export of sunflower seeds, rapeseed, corn, wheat

During an online meeting, Bulgarian Agriculture and Food Minister Kiril Vatev and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solskyi agreed on the details of implementing a licensing system for Ukrainian export of sunflower seeds, rapeseed, corn and wheat, the Ministry reported.

“The Agriculture and Food Ministry kept its promise to limit imports of these agricultural products as much as possible by November 30 in keeping with the memorandum signed between the Government and the protesting farmers’ Initiative Committee,” Vatev said.

The memorandum was signed by the government of Nikolay Denkov after two days of a nation-wide protest of Bulgarian grain farmers, inflamed by the lifting of a ban on Ukrainian food imports by the Bulgarian Parliament several days earlier.

Vatev added that after November 30, the sides will strictly monitor the situation to make sure there is no market distortion and the interests of Bulgarian producers, processors and consumers are not undermined. 

Imports and exchanges between the two countries will continue to be monitored, the Ministry said.