Deputy Parliament Speaker Alexandru Slusari requested to question representatives of the National Food Safety Agency and the Ministry of Aeroculture and Regional Development over the situation on the first group grains market in the next meeting of the parliamentary commission on agriculture and food industry. According to the MP, farmer’s storehouses in several weeks will be full of barley and wheat that cannot be solid in a year with production shortage.

According to Alexandru Slusari, the grain market stagnates. The National Food Safety Agency imposed unofficial restrictions on the export of grain until September 1 and of barley until July 15. The certification of exports grew more expensive. The exporters in such conditions do not buy barley and wheat form farmers. The state also does not make purchases for the domestic market.

Contacted by IPN for a comment, Alexandru Slusari said the Agency gathered together the exporters and told them that they will not be issued with certificates for the export of barley until July 15 and of wheat until September 1, in the absence of a relevant official decision. Some of the exporters have contracts with EU states, Turkey, but cannot honor them owing to this unofficial restriction. “Because of the obscure methods used by the Government, the agricultural producers and exporters are affected. The situation needs to be clarified,” said the MP of the PPPDA.

Alexandru Slusari noted he was informed by producers that a certificate that confirms the norm of pesticides cost 1,300 lei, but now costs 3,000 lei. But this information should be verified and the officials in charge should be thus questioned. In normal conditions, the Government should officially restrict the export of wheat and barley or should allow exports. If the export is banned officially, legal force majeure circumstance appear and the farmers and exporters can reschedule their debts, while the state should purchase a large part of the wheat from farmers at advantageous prices.

Spokesman for the National Food Safety Agency Boris Harea has told IPN that the institution is preparing an official position on the subject raised by Alexandru Slusari and a press release will be soon issued.