Poland partially lifted a nearly week-long ban imposed in reaction to farmer protests on Friday and allowed transit shipments of Ukrainian grain and other commodities through its borders.
Following complaints from farmers that Ukrainian grain imports were driving down domestic prices, Poland and other EU nations bordering Ukraine temporarily banned the import of Ukrainian grain.
After Russia’s invasion hindered its regular Black Sea shipping route, Ukraine increased exports of agricultural and food products through EU countries.
The transit of numerous Ukrainian food products, including sugar, meat, fruits, and vegetables is now permitted, according to Polish authorities, but they cannot be sold on the domestic market.
Numerous food products from the war-torn nation were prohibited from entry into Poland on Saturday. Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria also made analogous decisions.
However, on Tuesday, Warsaw and Kiev announced a deal to permit the continuation of their transit through Poland, subject to stringent controls and checks that include attaching electronic seals to the vehicles.
Additionally, for a week, Polish customs officers will accompany the cars transporting exports.
“We will let such a transport out of our sight only when it enters the port to be loaded, for example grain onto a ship, or leaves the Polish border,” Bartosz Zbaraszczuk, head of the Polish customs agency, told RMF24 radio.
But protesting farmers said letting the transit flow might do further harm to Polish exporters.
“This will not relieve the situation on our farms, in our warehouses,” Wieslaw Burzynski from the Pomeranian Chamber of Agriculture told reporters on Friday.
“Because grain and Ukrainian products will enter into competition with our products,” Burzynski said.
