Moldova not to extend licensing program for grain imports from Ukraine
The Moldovan government has decided not to extend the licensing program for grain imports from Ukraine, and the country will return to the regular import schedule as of January 1, 2026, Moldovan Agriculture Minister Ludmila Catlabuga said.
"The current legal framework no longer allows for the extension of this measure. According to the legislation, the licensing regime for grain imports no longer requires extension. Therefore, we are switching to the normal regime," Catlabuga told reporters, as quote by the bani.md online publication.
The previously established deadline for restricting grain imports expires on December 31 of this year, Catlabuga said.
Catlabuga also said that the authorities would maintain a stricter mechanism for monitoring the grain market in order to be able to intervene promptly in case of serious imbalances. "We will closely monitor the situation to prevent any disruptions in the market," she said.
Catlabuga during the application of the licensing regime said that a special commission created under the Agriculture Ministry issued 25 import licenses for the import of various types of grain crops.
The Moldovan Farmers' Association the previous day said that if the licensing program for grain imports from Ukraine is not extended, then the local market risks collapsing.
Moldova implemented licensing for grain imports from Ukraine in October 2023, and has extended the licensing repeatedly. The measure has been to protect Moldovan farmers, as well as the domestic market, from cheaper grain from Ukraine. The restriction was introduced amid protests by local farmers.