Checks don't uncover everything
These products included 3882 tonnes of method rape and 7670 tonnes of wheat originally intended for feed, which were sold as consumption. This is another intervention of the inspections concerning trade in Ukrainian grain, but farmers believe that the situation is more serious than it seems.
on the launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, The EU has opened its borders to Ukrainian goods, including agri-food products, which allowed free trade. The Polish government, headed by Mateusz Morawiecki, supported this movement, but inexpensive Ukrainian products began to influence the prices of home products. erstwhile prices began to fall, the Minister of Agriculture Henryk Kowalczyk appealed to farmers to refrain from selling, however, which had the other effect.
In the spring of 2023, farmers' protests led to the resignation of Minister Kowalczyk. His successor, PiS MP Robert Telus, promised farmers that the government would address the problem and close the border for Ukrainian grain, which stabilised the market. However, after the PiS elections lost, Anna Gembick's "two-week agriculture minister" revealed a list of companies active in trade in Ukrainian grain. Nevertheless, the subject of the list did not rise as much interest as the political earthquake.
Evening, so, you know, a love spray...
You're having a large time in the capital, and I'm inactive waiting for the list of grain importing companies from Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/R0XeFf6fWc
— Luke (@ukash43600907) May 2, 2024
List without echo, though not quite
On 9 April, the Polish Press Agency informed that the Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski had decided to remove the list of Ukrainian grain traders from the Ministry's website. Siekierski explained that the list was removed due to many complaints, requests for rectification and threats of lawsuits, considering that the publication was incorrect and irresponsible. The minister apologized to the companies that suffered from the publication of the list.
The publication of this list did not arouse much excitement among the public, with the exception of Cedrobu, a company suspected of importing crucial quantities of cereals into feed. Cedrob is 1 of the largest poultry producers in Poland and needs a large amount of feed. Virtual Poland reported that 16 grain shipments from Ukraine went to Cedrobu and the company's president was a associate of the PiS from 2015 to 2022. Another company importing Ukrainian cereals was Wipasz, whose president Józef Wiśniewski was advised by PiS MP Marek Zagórski. Zagórski denied that he had any connection to the Ukrainian grain trade.
Other companies were besides suspected of importing Ukrainian grain. In November 2023, a list of companies importing Ukrainian cereals was published, indicating that the largest importer was Złote Ziarno, bringing grain worth over PLN 560 million. another companies on the list were Viterra Polska and Komagra.
There I believe that method grain from Ukraine works wonderfully on our health
— Me besides 🇵🇱 (@limitco2) May 3, 2024
Who would you blame it on?
In September 2023. The ultimate Chamber of Control published the results of the inspection, stating that 1 3rd of Ukrainian grain contained harmful substances. The activities of the Minister of Agriculture were late and ineffective. The prosecution conducted proceedings against companies importing Ukrainian cereals, suspected of fraud and forgeries of documents.
The decision to print the list of companies proved to be an effort to find a scapegoat for dissatisfied farmers. Eventually, the ministry withdrew from this decision, knowing that Ukrainian grain trade was carried out in accordance with the law. The real problem was the EU policy on this issue, including the deficiency of analysis and control of the Ukrainian grain trade.
