Lithuania has tightened control over grain coming to Lithuania from Russia, the occupied territories of Ukraine and other high-risk countries. New decisions on even stricter control will be made in the near future. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania.


Starting today, all imports of feed grains and feed products from high-risk countries will be suspended, and samples will be taken from each wagon or vehicle.


The decision to verify the origin of grains passing through Lithuania will also be made in the near future, as soon as the methodological requirements are finalized.


The origin investigation was initiated by the department after receiving information from the Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine about suspicions that Russia is profiting from grain exports from the occupied Ukrainian territories to third countries.


"Russia should not be able to use Lithuania's infrastructure and profit from the sale of Ukrainian grain. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, in response to the information received about Russia's possible sale of grain seized from the occupied territories through the Baltic Sea ports, has urgently taken measures to strengthen control over grain imports from Russia and other high-risk countries," said Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Navickas.


The list of high-risk countries includes Russia, Belarus, Transnistria, non-government-controlled Moldova, Russia-annexed Crimea and other occupied territories in Ukraine, as well as the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali in Georgia.