On Thursday, the government adopted an emergency resolution on the creation of a consultation mechanism and a coordinated response in the context of the implementation of the permit system for the export of agricultural products introduced by Ukraine, News.ro reports. Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu explained that imports of wheat, corn, sunflower and soybeans will only be allowed on the basis of a marketing agreement issued by the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture, and only for farmers and processors who demonstrate that they need this quantity to replenish stocks.

“Today, at the government meeting, an extraordinary resolution was adopted, which protects Romanian farmers from importing grain from Ukraine. Based on the mechanism agreed with Ukraine, we establish a procedure whereby we allow the import of wheat, corn, sunflower and soybeans only on the basis of a marketing agreement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Thus, grain imports will only be possible for Romanian farmers and processors who can document that they need the quantity to replenish stocks,” Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu said at the end of Thursday’s executive committee meeting.

He added that only cereals that meet quality standards certified by the National Food Sanitation and Safety Authority (ANSVA) will be processed or fed based on the samples received and analysed.

The normative act will be valid until the end of December of this year and establishes temporary measures for the conclusion of a marketing agreement in the context of the implementation of the permit system for the export of agricultural products introduced by Ukraine in order to mitigate the direct negative consequences in the production of raw materials and processing, according to the press release of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Agricultural products subject to import, regulated by this emergency order, are:

a) Wheat and meslin;

b) Corn;

c) Rape or wild rape, whether or not chopped;

d) Sunflower seeds, whether or not crushed

Agricultural products can be imported only on the basis of an agreement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for economic entities with a registered office and work point/points in the territory of Romania, which are active in the following sectors of the economy:

a) 1041 – Production of oil and fats;

b) 1061 – Production of grinding products;

c) 1091 – Production of preparations for feeding agricultural animals;

d) 014 – Breeding of animals.

The contract execution procedure is as follows:

I. An economic entity that intends to import agricultural products from Ukraine applies to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with a request to issue a contract based on the presentation of a document that indicates the need to replenish stocks, as well as other necessary documents specified in GEO.

II. MADR, on the basis of a report issued by a commission established within the same institution, issues the agreement after verification by the Romanian authorities of the information provided by the operators requesting the issuance of the agreement.

III. The commission includes representatives of:

a) a representative of the National Fiscal Administration;

b) a representative of the Veterinary Sanitation and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA);

c) a representative of the customs authority of Romania;

d) a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

e) a representative of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism.

IV. The business entity provides a certificate of conformity of imported products issued by ANSVSA for compliance with sanitary, veterinary and food regulations after testing a sample of agricultural products.

V. On the basis of the agreement issued by MADR, the Romanian economic operator concludes a sales contract with an economic operator that has a license in Ukraine, for the required quantity of products provided for in the agreement, after which import operations are carried out under the supervision of the Romanian customs authorities.

VI. The customs seal will be opened at the destination, respectively at the headquarters or at the workplace of the economic operator in Romania, in the presence of representatives of the Romanian Customs Administration and ANSVSA.

YOU GO. ANSVSA collects samples of the imported product and checks its quality as specified in the certificate of conformity and if the product is found to be non-conforming, it is returned to the place of origin at the expense of the exporter.

VIII. The normative act also regulates:

– regime of sanctions for failure to comply with the provisions of the regulatory act;

– forms used to apply the provisions of the emergency ordinance.

This emergency resolution will be in effect until December 31, 2023, the source said.