No grounds for import ban: Czechia finds no violations in Ukrainian grain and meat

Czech control authorities checked samples of grain, meat, and eggs from Ukraine and found none that did not meet the standards.

Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula told journalists today, along with the directors of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection, the State Veterinary Administration, and the Central Agricultural Inspection and Testing Institute, Ceske Noviny reports.

The minister explained that each sample of imported food products is analyzed for more than 400 residues of active substances. These are mainly tests for mycotoxins or pesticide residues, and all samples are tested for heavy metals such as lead or cadmium.

The minister emphasized that the Czech Republic has no reason to ban importing agricultural products from Ukraine, as Poland, Slovakia, and other countries did. Intensive checks would continue in the future. They will also focus on dairy products.

Nekula also stated that the Czech Republic is self-sufficient in grain and exports a significant part of its products. Last year, the Czech Republic produced 160 percent of its domestic needs in grain and twice as much in wheat.

Background

Romania has introduced border checks for agricultural goods imported from Ukraine after the EU canceled import tariffs for Ukrainian products, which flowed to the European market.

Poland banned the import of agricultural food from Ukraine, citing pressure on the local market and domestic losses of farming businesses. After that, Hungary introduced similar restrictions, and Slovakia stopped importing grain from Ukraine.

The day before, Ukraine agreed with Poland to unblock the transit of its grain. Polish Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus announced that grain shipments from Ukraine passing through Poland would be accompanied and monitored using the SENT system, sealing GPS trackers and making it possible to track shipments to find out whether they left Poland.