Authorities announce possible resumption of poultry imports from Ukraine
Almost a month after temporarily suspending imports of poultry meat and products from Ukraine, the authorities are announcing a potential mechanism for the phased resumption of these deliveries under strict food safety conditions. The details were provided by Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Ludmila Catlabuga on Wednesday, February 25.
"The government's priority regarding food safety is very clear: it is focused on protecting our consumers and citizens through what we consume. This was not an intentional intervention or blockage but rather a temporary suspension to gather the necessary evidence and ensure that what we are consuming is safe for our citizens," stated Ludmila Catlabuga.
According to the minister, numerous bilateral consultations were held with the Ukrainian side during this period, along with discussions involving ministry agencies and importers from the Republic of Moldova. On February 24, during a meeting organized at the agency level, a concept for gradually unblocking imports was proposed.
The first stage aims to resume the import of frozen poultry meat, subject to the submission of laboratory analyses for each batch.
"Importers will need to communicate with potential suppliers in Ukraine, specifically regarding slaughterhouses and the batches that will enter the Moldovan market. This will ensure that we have the necessary laboratory analyses and samples. This process will demonstrate that all goods and products that enter the country and reach consumer shelves are safe," the minister explained.
The sanitary-veterinary and customs authorities will closely monitor the process, and depending on compliance with the established requirements, the resumption of imports of refrigerated meat may be considered at a later date.
We remind you that the National Food Safety Agency decided at the end of January to temporarily suspend imports of poultry meat and poultry meat products from Ukraine. The authorities in Chisinau made this decision based on investigations that found the prohibited antibiotic metronidazole in batches of feed previously imported from Ukraine.
On January 9, the ANSA also temporarily suspended the import of compound feed from Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova after official controls detected residues of the same banned substance in blood serum samples, feed, and eggs from poultry farms.
Additionally, in early January, at least 110,000 birds were destroyed following 17 inspections conducted at feed warehouses, farms, and slaughterhouses across several regions of the Republic of Moldova, following the discovery of metronidazole in serum and feed samples.
