Slovakia suspends processing of a batch of wheat from Ukraine

Slovakia has suspended the threshing of a 1,500-ton batch of Ukrainian wheat after tests showed an increased concentration of pesticides in it.

This was announced on Wednesday by the acting Minister of Agriculture of Slovakia Samuel Vlchan, SME reports.

The minister reminded me that back in July 2022, he ordered tightening control over imported Ukrainian grain.

"Even before we started sealing all transit trucks with Ukrainian grain, a relatively large sample of Ukrainian grain was intercepted, and three independent accredited laboratories confirmed the presence of elevated pesticide residues," he said.

According to Vlčan, by the end of the week, the Slovak authorities will receive the results of the wheat test to determine whether pesticide residues in it can affect human health.

The batch of Ukrainian wheat that was found to contain elevated levels of pesticides was milled at one of the largest mills in Slovakia, the official added. The rest of the grain, which is 1,500 tons, will not be used.

Vlčan did not specify how much grain with allegedly excessive pesticide content had already been milled.

Ukraine, one of the world's largest grain exporters, has been unable to export grain across the Black Sea for a long time since Russia's full-scale invasion, forcing it to look for alternative export routes.

Author - Olena Madiak, 12/04/2023