Slovakia has banned the processing and sale of Ukrainian grain because pesticides were found in it

The Ministry of Agriculture of Slovakia has banned the processing of grain imported from Ukraine.

A pesticide, which is not allowed in the EU and has a negative effect on peopleʼs health, was found in a grain shipment from Ukraine weighing 1,500 tons. The Ministry initiated an inspection of all grain and flour from Ukraine, which are already stored in Slovakia.

The country will also inform all EU states about the batch that does not meet sanitary requirements.

Minister Samuel Vlchan will tell about the incident to the Ambassador of Ukraine Myroslav Kastran, to the Ministers of Agriculture of the Visegrad Four countries, Romania and Bulgaria at a joint meeting on April 14.

• On July 22, 2022, Russia signed an agreement on unblocking the export of Ukrainian grain from the ports of Odesa, Pivdenny, and Chornomorsk. Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement separately — each with the UN and Turkey. There are no signatures of Ukraine and Russia on the same document. At the beginning of August, the first caravan of ships left the ports of Odessa. On November 17, 2022, the agreement was officially extended for another four months.
• On March 13, 2023, the Russian side, after negotiations with UN representatives, agreed to extend the "grain agreement", but only for 60 days. However, Russiaʼs future position will depend on "progress in the export of Russian agricultural products." The Russian Federation wants the West to ease sanctions on Russian food and fertilizers. But in Ukraine, they said that Russiaʼs position to extend the "grain agreement" for 60 days contradicts this agreement, because it can be extended for at least 120 days.