The Republic of Moldova will gradually resume poultry meat imports from Ukraine, starting with frozen products only. Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Ludmila Catlabuga announced the decision after the Government meeting.
According to the minister, authorities made the decision following discussions with the Ukrainian side and poultry meat importers from Moldova.
“The Government priority is food safety and the protection of our consumers. This was not an intentional blockage, but a temporary suspension to ensure, based on evidence, that the products consumed are safe for citizens,” Catlabuga said.
She explained that authorities will resume imports gradually and will subject each batch of meat to laboratory testing.
“In the first stage, we are trying to unblock imports for frozen poultry meat, but we will require laboratory samples for each batch. Importers will need to coordinate with suppliers in Ukraine, including slaughterhouses and production units, to provide the necessary analyses,” the minister stated.
She added that inspections will confirm that the products placed on the Moldovan market are safe for consumers.
Moldova suspended poultry meat imports from Ukraine on January 26. The National Food Safety Agency announced the measure at the time, citing food safety risks.