Lithuania has almost stopped importing grain from Russia and Belarus

The strengthening of control over the import of grain into Lithuania from the Russian Federation and Belarus almost stopped its import to the country, but the volume of transit to other EU countries increased.

As reported by Ukrinform, this was stated by the Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania Audroni Mikalauskene, LRT reports.

"Strengthening control over the import of grain into Lithuania from the Russian Federation and Belarus has almost stopped the import of grain, but its transit to other markets of EU countries has increased significantly", - state the State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania.

"After March 18, we observe a 95% reduction in imports from the Russian Federation and Belarus to Lithuania, but we observe an increase in imports to Lithuania for import to other EU countries," said the head of the service, Audroni Mikalauskene.

Since March 18, the State Food and Veterinary Service has been checking every wagon or vehicle with grain imported from high-risk countries - the Russian Federation and its occupied regions and from Belarus, checking the origin of the grain and, as before, checking whether there is no grain in the consignments, intended for the EU market, prohibited impurities.

According to Mikalauskene, from January 1 to March 18, 184 consignments of grain were transported through Lithuania to the markets of Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and other EU countries, and from March 18 to April 16 – 317 consignments.

"This means that the number of shipments to other EU countries from the Russian Federation and Belarus via Lithuania has almost doubled," said Mikalauskene.

According to the agency, until March 18, an average of 20-25 consignments of Russian or Belarusian fodder went to Lithuania for import per day.

During the first month of increased inspections, 38 trucks transporting 1,068 tons of fodder from the Russian Federation and Belarus were inspected. Three batches were missed, the rest are still undergoing laboratory tests. Last week, no batch of fodder intended for the Lithuanian market was detected.

In addition, since March 18, Russian and Belarusian grain and its processing products for final consumption have not been imported into Lithuania.

According to the State Food and Veterinary Service, in the period from March 18 to April 16, 292 batches of grain with a total weight of 18,000 tons were imported to EU countries via Lithuania from the Russian Federation and Belarus.

Mikalauskene emphasized that only last week, 25 consignments of grain destined for the German market were transported through the port of Klaipeda.

In March, the European Commission proposed imposing maximum import tariffs on grains, oil seeds, and their processing products, including wheat, corn, and sunflower meal, hoping to stop Russian agricultural products entering the EU market.

According to the European Commission, last year, 4.8 million tons of grain worth 1.5 billion euros were imported to the EU from the Russian Federation and Belarus.

Russia is the enemy, says Europe. But we will buy more and more Russian grain, says Europe. But we won’t buy Ukrainian grain, says Europe.

Have you all gone crazy there?

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 25/04/2024