The Association of Poultry Industry Producers raised again the theme of the import of poultry from Ukraine, signaling that the volumes continue to grow and this causes problems to the local producers. It warns that an increasing number of Ukrainian companies get authorization for supplying poultry to Moldova, while the national producers become more vulnerable and face the risk of reducing production and the number of workplaces.

“In June 2015, when debating the agricultural package and in the context of the discussion on the opportunity of reducing VAT on the sale of meat, the Ministry of Economy promised to shortly introduce measures to protect the national producers from poultry imports from Ukraine. However, when the measures to limit imports from Ukraine were discussed in the first quarter of this year, the poultry was ultimately excluded from the list of products on which import duties were imposed, without explanations. The Association of Poultry Industry Producers, taking into account the significant rise in poultry imports from Ukraine, calls on the Government to return to the issue,” the Association says in a press release.

Contacted by IPN, the head of the Board of the Floreni Poultry Breeding Company Vladimir Saulschi confirmed that the imports of poultry into Moldova increased and not only those from Ukraine. “It is regrettable because our products are of a high quality. We supply the retail outlets of Moldova wish fresh, refrigerated meat. Objectively, this cannot be ensured when such products are imported,” he stated, adding that the company employs 1,300 people.

According to the statistics of the Association of Poultry Industry Producers, the poultry imports since the start of this year rose to 1,400 tonnes in June at a time when domestic consumption is estimated at 3,000-3,500 tonnes.