PRESS RELEASE - The poultry sector faces significant import increases from Ukraine following trade liberalisation
PRESS RELEASE - The poultry sector faces significant import increases from Ukraine following trade liberalisation
AVEC, The Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU countries, met with Commissioner Wojciechowski on Tuesday 6th June to present data supporting the use of expedited safeguard measures for imports of poultry meat from Ukraine.
AVEC reiterates its full support to the EU authorities for all measures aiming at helping Ukrainian citizens to face the consequences of the Russian aggression.
“Our organisation and members fully support the measures aiming to help Ukrainian citizens during this terrible war” – stated Gert-Jan Oplaat, AVEC’s President – “However, our sector has been experiencing unforeseen consequences and we would like to find solutions to mitigate their impact.”
The poultry sector is facing significant increase of imports of poultry meat from Ukraine since trade liberalisation is in place.
Since June 2022 (when liberalisation started) until today the sector has imported more than 218 000 T of poultry meat from Ukraine.
The EU quota that was in place before liberalisation limited imports from Ukraine to 90 000 T. We have therefore been facing an increase of 240 % in imports of poultry meat compared to the initial quota in a 12-month period.
This has had significant effects on the prices of chicken breast filet in the EU, putting the whole EU poultry meat market at risk.
”While the Commission has proposed to prolong the liberalisation of the trade with Ukraine for one additional year, we call for the activation of the safeguard clause to reintroduce quotas for the imports of poultry meat as soon as possible”.
Gert-Jan Oplaat, AVEC’s President, followed: “While we understand the need to support Ukraine collectively, it is not fair that our sector has to pay such a high price to help Ukraine individually. If measures are not taken in the future, the survival of our sector is at stake.”
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For further information, please contact
Birthe Steenberg, Secretary General
Email: bs@avec-poultry.eu
Isabella Beck Jørgensen, Communications Manager
Email: ibeckjorgensen@kellencompany.com
