Technical grain imports from Ukraine: inspections, border controls, and transit decisions (Poland)

Checks on imports of technical grain from Ukraine revealed irregularities at nine companies; appropriate notices have been sent to law enforcement agencies, the Lublin Voivode, Lech Sprawka, announced Thursday.

During the press conference, the Lublin Voivodeship official Lech Sprawka referred to inspections of technical grain from Ukraine in the voivodeship, which have been ongoing since November and December last year.

At the same time, authorities are only testing grain that has already entered Poland and has been allowed on the market as technical grain. They verify that it has not, to put it bluntly, been repurposed for food or feed, because it has not been thoroughly tested either as feed or as food, as it was intended for technical uses such as pellet production, direct combustion, or industrial processing.

The official explained.

Technical grain

He emphasized that 24 companies have been checked on this point. Irregularities were found in nine cases, mostly involving a shift in the grain’s intended use from technical to feed purposes, according to his account.

Relevant reports in all nine cases were filed with law enforcement by the Inspectorate, the Lublin Voivode stated, noting that ongoing investigations prevent sharing further details, including company names or the scope of the practice.

Referring to Saturday’s regulation on the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine, including the Minister of Grains, Sugar, Fruits and Vegetables stressed that movement of these goods at the border was halted immediately from that point forward.

Not a kilogram of grain, not a kilogram of poultry meat, not even a single egg passed at road and rail crossings, the governor noted.

He explained that at the border crossings in Dorohusk and Hrebenne there are no trucks with grain, while at the level crossings in Dorohusk and Hrubieszów there are wagons present inside Poland but not cleared, and they cannot be withdrawn on the Ukrainian side for the time being due to Ukrainian constraints.

He pointed out that, for example, on the LHS (Broad-Gauge Metallurgical Line) in Hrubieszów, due to the track volume, it is sometimes necessary to temporarily avoid wagons with Ukrainian grain to clear routes for other trains, with the understanding that the train returns later to its place.

No wagon has been cleared at the LHS, the voivode explained, countering claims that transports with Ukrainian grain still pass through the railway crossing in Hrubieszów.

This assertion was rejected as untrue.

Transit resume

In the night from Thursday to Friday, the voivode received questions about resuming transit of agricultural products from Ukraine. According to statements by the Minister of Development and Technology and the Minister of Agriculture, Ukrainian grain passing through Poland will be transported and monitored by the SENT system, with shipments sealed using electronic GPS devices.

It all depends on whether importers in Ukraine commit to moving grain to third countries and declare such intent. The market conditions are not something authorities can force, according to Lech Sprawka.

The official added that he expects large quantities to be re-exported. In other words, what has already entered the market and is allowed for trade in Poland may be bought and sold to third countries with the involvement of state-owned companies, including RARS, as part of broader humanitarian aid efforts.

During a Law and Justice agriculture convention in the village of Łyse near Ostrołęka, a package of proposals for farmers titled Jarosław Kaczyński’s Concrete For Polish Village was introduced. The plan centers on a joint grain purchase, subsidies for fertilizers, and a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports.

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The EU’s pressure to block Ukrainian grain imports has been noted by observers.

Other actions include Bulgaria and Slovakia restricting Ukrainian grain and other foods, with Romania focusing on transit controls via sealing shipments. The Ministry of Development and Technology promised updates on the transit status as of the latest night interval.

Mon/PAP

Notes: Statements reflect official positions from regional authorities and government ministries. The information is provided as part of ongoing coverage of the grain import situation and related regulatory measures.