Deal reached to resume poultry exports between Moldova and Ukraine
Poultry meat exports from Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova may resume following an agreement between the sanitary and veterinary authorities of both countries on a control mechanism. This arrangement will facilitate the reopening of the market for these products. The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) made this announcement on the evening of March 4.
According to ANSA, during discussions between representatives of the institution and the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the parties analyzed existing technical issues and agreed on a joint control mechanism. This mechanism will allow the resumption of frozen and chilled poultry meat exports from Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova.
Under the agreed mechanism, exports will restart for Ukrainian enterprises that have the right to export to European Union member states and have a closed production cycle, including their own slaughterhouses. These enterprises will be permitted to deliver products to the Moldovan market only after laboratory tests of 10 blood serum samples, conducted in accredited laboratories within the European Union.
"As soon as the test results confirm compliance with the established safety standards, the export of both frozen and chilled poultry meat will be opened for the appropriate capacity. This step will serve as an important signal regarding the stability and reliability of the Ukrainian agricultural sector," emphasized the cited source.
Authorities have announced that after resuming deliveries, the conditions and frequency of additional laboratory tests will be further discussed between the competent institutions of both countries.
According to ANSA, the Ukrainian side has already taken initial steps in this process, selecting a representative sample set that has been sent to laboratories in the European Union for analysis. The authorities emphasize that this joint control mechanism is intended to strengthen trust in food safety and develop bilateral trade.
The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) announced at the end of January that it has temporarily suspended the import of poultry meat and poultry products from Ukraine. This decision was made based on investigations that revealed the presence of metronidazole, an antibiotic harmful to health, in feed batches previously imported from Ukraine.
On January 9, ANSA also halted the import of compound feed from Ukraine after official controls detected metronidazole residues in blood serum samples, feed, and eggs from poultry farms.
Additionally, at the beginning of January, authorities destroyed at least 110,000 birds following 17 inspections conducted in feed warehouses, farms, and slaughterhouses across various regions of the Republic of Moldova. This action was taken after metronidazole was found in serum and feed samples.
