Lithuania has tightened controls on grain imports from Russia, Belarus and other high-risk territories since Monday, in response to reports that Russia is exporting grain from occupied territories in Ukraine through the Baltic Sea ports.
“In response to information about grain seized by Russia in the occupied territories being sold via Baltic Sea ports, the Agriculture Ministry has urgently taken measures to tighten controls on grain imported from Russia and other heightened-risk countries,” Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas stated in a press release.
The list of high-risk territories includes Russia, Belarus, Transnistria, which is not controlled by the Moldovan government, Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia, and other occupied territories in Ukraine, as well as the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia.
Controls will extend to imports destined for the Lithuanian market and those in transit through the port of Klaipeda.
All cereals and feed grain products sent from high-risk territories will also be checked for residues of pesticides, mycotoxins, lead and cadmium.
For now only feed grains will be examined, however, checks on food grains are looking to be introduced in the near future.
The ministry recalls that the products imported so far have also been checked, but now “control has been tightened to the maximum, as there have been many suspicions and public statements that this grain from Russia, Belarus, from high-risk countries, could be dangerous.”
Further steps
The Agriculture Ministry anticipates that in the near future, more regulations will be implemented, including tracing the origin of grain that is carried via Lithuania.
Lithuanian media recall that last Thursday, the Seimas asked the European Commission to ban the import of Russian and Belarusian grain into the EU, and that Latvia has already imposed a temporary ban on the import of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and feed, but not on transit.
The list of high-risk territories includes Russia, Belarus, Transnistria, which is not controlled by the Moldovan government, Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia, and other occupied territories in Ukraine, as well as the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia.
Controls will extend to imports destined for the Lithuanian market and those in transit through the port of Klaipeda.
All cereals and feed grain products sent from high-risk territories will also be checked for residues of pesticides, mycotoxins, lead and cadmium.
For now only feed grains will be examined, however, checks on food grains are looking to be introduced in the near future.
The ministry recalls that the products imported so far have also been checked, but now “control has been tightened to the maximum, as there have been many suspicions and public statements that this grain from Russia, Belarus, from high-risk countries, could be dangerous.”
Further steps
The Agriculture Ministry anticipates that in the near future, more regulations will be implemented, including tracing the origin of grain that is carried via Lithuania.
Lithuanian media recall that last Thursday, the Seimas asked the European Commission to ban the import of Russian and Belarusian grain into the EU, and that Latvia has already imposed a temporary ban on the import of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and feed, but not on transit.
Source: PAP, lrt.lt
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