The European Commission adopted exceptional and temporary preventive measures on imports of a limited number of products from Ukraine under the exceptional safeguard of the Autonomous Trade Measures Regulation. The measures follow the recent decision of EU countries bordering Ukraine to impose restrictions on Ukrainian grain and oilseeds.

The measures concern only four agricultural products – wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed – originating in Ukraine. They aim to alleviate logistical bottlenecks concerning these products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The measures will enter into force on May 2 and will last until June 5, 2023.

During this period, wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed originating in Ukraine can continue to be released for free circulation in all the member states of the European Union other than the five frontline member states: Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The products can continue to circulate in or transit via these five member states by means of a common customs transit procedure or go to a country or territory outside the EU.

In parallel, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have committed to lift their unilateral measures on wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed and any other products coming from Ukraine.

These measures are part of the overall support package that the Commission is putting forward and will be complemented with financial support for farmers in the five member states and further measures to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain exports via Solidarity Lanes to other member states and third countries.

The Commission is ready to reimpose preventive measures beyond the expiry of the current Autonomous Trade Measures Regulation on June 5, 2023, as long as the exceptional situation continues.