Ukraine is working to restore poultry exports to Moldova after a temporary import suspension, with both sides engaging in talks aimed at resolving technical concerns and reopening trade flows.
The issue was discussed during an online meeting between Ukrainian officials and representatives from Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA).
Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, Oleksiy Sobolev, described Moldova as a key market, noting that Ukrainian poultry exports to the country reached 18,400 metric tons worth $32.7 million in 2025. He said the temporary ban needs to be addressed quickly to avoid prolonged disruption.
According to Ukraine’s ministry, both sides agreed to strengthen inspection controls on Ukrainian poultry exporters to address Moldova’s safety concerns. Sobolev stated that Ukraine remains confident in its product quality, pointing to consistent export performance in the European Union.
He added that Ukraine is prepared to increase transparency and provide additional guarantees, including laboratory testing in accredited institutions when requested.
Moldova’s National Food Safety Agency imposed the temporary ban on January 26, 2025, covering poultry meat and poultry feed imports from Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Union of Poultry Farmers criticized the measures as artificial and biased, arguing that they were aimed at pushing Ukrainian producers out of the Moldovan market and calling for their immediate repeal.
Officials from both countries agreed to continue joint efforts to remove trade barriers and restore normal trade dynamics. Ukrainian authorities said they expect progress soon, emphasizing that there are no objective grounds for a prolonged suspension.
Ukraine’s poultry sector has remained a strong export performer, with revenues projected to reach $1.149 billion in 2025, up 13.7% from 2024.
The Netherlands was the largest buyer of Ukrainian poultry during the year, accounting for 17.4% of exports, followed by the United Kingdom at 11.5%, Saudi Arabia at 9.9%, and Slovakia at 7.6%.
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