Filenews 3 May 2023
The European Commission today adopted exceptional and temporary precautionary measures for imports of a limited number of products from Ukraine as part of the safeguard of the Autonomous Trade Measures Regulation. These measures are necessary due to the exceptional circumstances of severe logistical bottlenecks in five Member States. The measures concern only four agricultural products - wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds from Ukraine. They aim to alleviate logistical bottlenecks related to these products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The measures entered into force on 2 May and will last until 5 June 2023.
During this period, wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed from Ukraine may continue to be released for free circulation in all Member States of the European Union except Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Products can continue to move or be transported through these five Member States through a common customs transit procedure or go to a country or territory outside the EU.
In parallel, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have committed to lift their unilateral measures on wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed and any other products originating in Ukraine.
The measures support the EU's strong commitment to support Ukraine and maintain its capacity to export its cereals that are critical for global food security and keeping food prices low, in the face of huge challenges posed by unprovoked Russian aggression.
These measures are part of the overall support package proposed by the Commission and will be complemented by financial support for farmers in the five Member States and further measures to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain exports through the solidarity lanes to other Member States and third countries.
The Commission stands ready to reimpose precautionary measures after the expiry of the current Regulation on autonomous trade measures on 5 June 2023, should the exceptional situation persist.
The Commission stands ready to launch an assessment of the state of the Union market for other sensitive products under the accelerated safeguards procedure of the Commission's proposal for the new Regulation on autonomous trade measures upon entry into force of this Regulation.
SOURCE: AMBE
