Poland’s food-quality watchdog IJHARS said deliveries from Russia in the first quarter were “significantly higher” than a year earlier, when domestic greenhouse output is still low. Eurostat figures cited by Russia’s RIA news agency put March volumes at more than 2,000 tons.
Inspectors examined 125 consignments at the Polish border between January and mid-March and said all met EU commercial standards. Spot checks at wholesalers later found mis-labelling of origin; fines were issued for “unfair and illegal” practice, IJHARS said.
In February, Polish officials rejected a Belarus-trucked shipment after tests found 0.13 mg/kg of the insecticide pimetrozine, six times the EU limit. The load was returned to Russia.
Regional concern
Latvian growers fear re-exported Russian cucumbers may undercut local produce.
“It feels absurd that we debate helping Ukraine while Russian food moves freely across Europe,” said Jānis Bušs, head of Baltic Vegetables cooperative.
Calls are growing in Riga for an EU-wide ban on farm imports from Russia and Belarus similar to restrictions on grain earlier in the war.
Price versus principles
Trade analysts say Russian cucumbers entering at €1–€1.20 per kilo are 30 % below Dutch or Spanish offers, tempting wholesalers facing squeezed consumers.
Warsaw acknowledges the “temptation to relabel” foreign vegetables as Polish during the winter gap, an IJHARS statement noted.
Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski told reporters Poland will press Brussels for tougher traceability rules and rapid alerts on pesticide violations.
EU farm ministers discuss further agri-sanctions against Moscow next month.
(jh)
Source: RMF24