Bulgaria insists on measures related to the processing of sunflower seeds from the new harvest

Bulgaria will have a serious problem with the processing of sunflower from the new harvest if the ban on imports of sunflower seeds from Ukraine is lifted after 15 September. This became clear from the words of Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev, who participated in a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels on July 25.

Bulgaria and the other four frontline countries insist that the restrictive measures the EU has introduced on imports of sunflower and rapeseed, wheat and corn be extended beyond 15 September.

The agriculture ministers condemned Russia's suspension of the grain deal and Russia's bombing of Ukrainian infrastructure linked to grain exports.

The Bulgarian agriculture minister commented that the country expects the new sunflower harvest to be over 2,000 tonnes. Ukraine is expected to produce between 12,000 and 14,000 tonnes, but at the same time the country does not have the capacity to process the sunflower, as Ukrainian processing plants have been bombed.

According to the agriculture minister, although Bulgaria and Romania have the largest number of sunflower seed processing plants, they will not be able to manage with the large volume from Ukraine.

In Brussels, Vetov also raised the issue of dumping in Bulgaria due to imports of Ukrainian milk powder. According to him, Bulgaria should get permission from the European Commission to provide state aid to dairy farmers.