Moldova to Import Ukrainian Snails: What Other Products Will Ukraine Export
14 May 15:38
Moldova has opened its market to imports of live snails and snail roe from Ukraine. This was reported by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“Ukrainian producers have also been granted the opportunity to export meat products to Moldova, including rendered animal fats, cracklings, meat extracts, and other processed poultry products,” the statement reads.
In addition, the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection and the National Agency for Food Safety of Moldova have updated and re-signed three more certificates in accordance with the current requirements of the Moldovan side.
It is noted that this will allow Ukrainian producers to continue to freely supply:
- plant-based animal feed;
- semi-finished poultry meat products;
- fresh poultry meat intended for human consumption.
“There have always been close economic ties between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, and we are interested in seeing them only grow stronger. At the same time, certain issues have arisen in the course of trade cooperation that required substantive discussion at the level of competent authorities. Today’s meeting was an important step toward building an open and constructive dialogue between our countries. We did not merely discuss problematic issues, but found practical solutions that will allow us to remove trade barriers, harmonize requirements, and create more predictable conditions for business,” emphasized Serhiy Tkachuk, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
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Problems with poultry meat supplies
As reported, in mid-March, Moldova restored access to its market for frozen and chilled poultry meat produced in Ukraine from a single Ukrainian business entity authorized to export to the European Union.
As a reminder, on January 26, 2026, Moldova suspended imports of Ukrainian poultry meat and poultry products, citing the detection of the drug metronidazole.
In Ukraine, state inspections and an investigation were initiated upon receiving the notification. According to the results of the initial inspection, the presence of metronidazole was confirmed in only one feed sample, which, according to the Ukrainian side, indicates that the incident was not systemic. At the same time, no non-conformities were found in the poultry meat itself.
The Ukrainian government considered licensing the import of Moldovan wine and spirits as a proportionate and lawful response mechanism in the absence of a review of the restrictions.
In 2025, Ukraine exported 18,400 tons of poultry meat (including meat and edible by-products) to Moldova for a total of $32.7 million, according to the Ministry of Economy. According to estimates by the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture, in recent years, Ukraine accounted for about 76% of poultry meat imports into Moldova. By the end of 2025, total poultry meat exports from Ukraine amounted to approximately 458,100 tons, with revenue exceeding $1.1 billion. The main buyers of Ukrainian chicken were the Netherlands (17.4% of total exports, or 79,700 tons), the United Kingdom (11.9%, 54,500 tons), Saudi Arabia (9.9%, 45,400 tons), and Slovakia (7.6%, 34,800 tons).
The Ukrainian Poultry Farmers Union stated that the restrictions on imports of poultry meat and poultry feed from Ukraine into Moldova are artificial in nature, aimed at eliminating Ukraine as a competitor in the Moldovan poultry meat market, and advocates for the immediate lifting of these unfounded and biased restrictions.
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