Moldova may reintroduce licensing of grain and sunseed imports

Moldova’s ruling PAS party has initiated a draft law that could reintroduce import licensing for grains, sunseed and corn.

It is envisaged that import licenses will be available to individuals or legal entities engaged in oil production, flour milling, livestock farming, and animal food production.

Such licensing will be valid until the end of 2024 with the possibility of extension for another year.

The explanatory note to the draft law states that in the context of high grain and sunseed production in Ukraine, it is difficult for Moldovan farmers to compete in prices.

The draft law should prevent unrestricted imports of grain and sunseed from Ukraine, which could lead to losses for Moldovan farmers and the risk of their insolvency on loans, as well as a negative social impact on their families.

The publication reminds that last fall, Moldova introduced import licensing for grains, corn and sunseed. The import licensing period expired at the end of June, and farmers demanded to extend the licensing, threatening to protest otherwise.

Farmers were promised that the Parliament would pass a bill on grain import licensing this week.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Moldova, since the fall of 2023, the authorities have issued 12 licenses to import 69.5 thousand tons of sunseed (including 1200 tons of varieties not grown in Moldova), as well as to import 44 tons of corn for the production of popcorn from varieties not grown in Moldova.

Tags: restrictions, sunseed, Ukraine, corn, grain, wheat, legislation