Ukraine to resume poultry exports to EU from bird flu-free zones

Ukraine is one of the major suppliers of poultry in Europe. The country produces enough poultry products to meet its domestic demand while still being able to export large quantities to different parts of the world. In fact, in 2020, the country boosted poultry meat exports by 4% to 431,000 tonnes, even while dealing with disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It also exported 108,690 tonnes of poultry to the European Union (EU) the same year. However, in December 2020, the nation’s poultry exports were hit hard by Avian influenza, also referred to as the bird flu outbreak, forcing the union to ban Ukraine poultry imports. This has put the poultry industry at further risk since previous outbreaks had already led to the culling of millions of birds.

Fortunately, after several months, the EU has finally allowed Ukraine to export poultry products from regions that are not suffering from the outbreak. This is a major development from a complete ban on exports from the entire country and will significantly help the Ukrainian economy. Ukraine’s State Service on Food Safety has stated that the country is now resuming exports to other parts of Europe, and an agreement has been signed in this regard. This will ensure that the poultry needs of Europe can be met while also making sure that the Ukrainian producers do not suffer any longer.

"This (exports) will happen even given that restrictions are still in place in areas where there have been cases of the disease and that safe products can be supplied from unaffected areas," Ukraine's State Service on Food Safety stated in its report.

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To conclude, the reversal of this export ban will certainly be a major boost for the Ukrainian economy. This is indeed a welcome move for the country, especially due to the uncertainties created by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out the rest of our site for more information about international trade and current events!