Public health mandate: Moldova halts Ukrainian meat imports amid safety violations
Moldova’s National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has issued a temporary suspension on all poultry and egg imports from Ukraine. The decision follows the discovery of Metronidazole, a prohibited substance, in imported feed and various poultry products.
The ban is a direct response to a significant safety breach where Ukrainian veterinary certificates erroneously certified contaminated products as compliant. Moldovan authorities highlighted that Metronidazole has been strictly banned in both the EU and Moldova for over two decades due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic risks.
Market Impact and Resilience
Local producers maintain that the suspension will not lead to a domestic shortage, despite Ukraine previously accounting for approximately 20% of annual consumption. In 2025, Moldova imported 18,343 tons of poultry from its neighbor, while total national consumption reached 90,000 tons.
Dorin Ciurea, President of the Moldovan Poultry Producers Union, stated that domestic farms are prepared to fill the supply gap. "During this period of typically lower seasonal demand, we do not anticipate any market disruptions," Ciurea noted, though he declined to predict potential price fluctuations, citing broader market supply and demand dynamics.
Systemic Safety Concerns
The investigation by ANSA revealed a lack of adequate residue monitoring by Ukrainian authorities. Despite official prohibitions, Metronidazole remains available on the Ukrainian market for veterinary use, often sold without prescription in large-scale packaging.
This enforcement action follows a related crackdown on January 9, which saw the destruction of over 110,000 birds across Moldovan farms and warehouses. The measure will remain in place until the Ukrainian sanitary-veterinary authorities provide sufficient safety guarantees and address the identified systemic failures.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
