Baltic states work with Ukraine to verify grain origin and block stolen exports
Ukraine and the Baltic states are working on a coordinated system to verify the origin of grain passing through Baltic territory and ports in an effort to prevent Russia from selling grain taken from occupied Ukrainian territories on international markets.
Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi discussed the initiative with his Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian counterparts in Brussels, Ukraine's Agriculture Ministry said on Sept. 29.
Lithuania is already piloting a Grain Verification Scheme through the port of Klaipėda.
Latvia began practical checks earlier this month. Since Sept. 16, authorities have collected four grain samples and sent them to a laboratory in France for analysis, with another two samples planned.
“Russia must not be allowed to legitimize grain stolen from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories on international markets,” Vysotskyi said.
He said the countries needed to move from documenting the problem to systematically verifying the origin of agricultural products.
Ukraine is seeking to expand the verification practice and coordinate controls among the three Baltic states.
The sides also discussed using Baltic ports as alternative routes for Ukrainian agricultural exports.