The problem with the import of Ukrainian grain into Bulgaria was created by Russian propaganda, Transport Minister Todor Gvozdeykov said on Monday after Bulgarian grain producers – who have been demanding a ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine – blocked off key roads in the country.
He reiterated that there is a decision of the EU Commission and the Bulgarian parliament to allow Ukrainian imports.
“When imports were allowed in 2022, Bulgarian grain producers made a profit of more than €1.25 billion. In 2021, the profit is smaller, but this protest now has a political purpose. They are trying to destabilise the clear (pro-EU geopolitical) direction of Bulgaria,” Gvozdeikov told bTV.
“Bulgaria has nothing to lose. We provide a corridor of solidarity, a port through which grain from Ukraine can be exported. And Bulgaria will benefit from this,” the minister added.
A strong disinformation campaign was launched on social networks, directed against Ukrainian agricultural production in Bulgaria. The most popular fake news was that Ukrainian food was contaminated with heavy metals and even uranium. The Bulgarian authorities have carried out hundreds of inspections of Ukrainian grain and food but have not found any such issue.
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov announced on Sunday evening that there is no real problem with Ukrainian agricultural imports, as Bulgaria has the right to determine what quantities it wants to accept.
The grain producers’ protest was triggered by the falling prices of sunflower seeds on world markets, while they insist that local processing plants buy their produce at prices 15-20% higher than the market value. However, this will lead to higher prices for the oil produced, which will effectively become unsellable.
The disinformation campaign was continued on Sunday by the National Union of Bakers and Confectioners chairwoman, Mariana Kukusheva. She explained to Nova TV that Ukrainian wheat can only be used for feed because it contains chemical compounds of “heavy metals”.
This caused the reaction of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, which announced that there are no heavy metals in Ukrainian wheat.
The Food Agency announced that there is increased control and a sample was taken from every shipment from Ukraine. To date, 575 samples of Ukrainian products have been taken and not a single deviation from safety standards has been found.
(Krassen Nikolov | Euractiv.bg)
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