Moldovan parliament approves licensing of grain and oilseed imports

On September 4, the Moldova's parliament has approved in the second reading a bill introducing temporary licensing of grain and oilseed imports. The new regime will remain in force until October 31, 2026, with no possibility of extension, and will take effect after the law is published in the Official Gazette.

The measure is aimed at protecting Moldovan farmers from large volumes of grain and oilseed imports from neighboring countries. According to the bill’s authors, domestic wheat prices in Moldova are currently about 1.5 lei lower than prices at the Port of Constanta. The law was also adopted amid concerns that without such a mechanism, Romania could impose restrictions on imports of Moldovan grain.

Import licenses will be issued free of charge. Applications will be reviewed by a special commission comprising representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, and the National Food Safety Agency.

Licenses will be available to individuals and companies engaged in livestock farming, production of oils and fats, milling, or production of feed for farm animals. Importers will not be allowed to resell or export products brought into the country under the licenses.

A similar licensing mechanism for grain and oilseed imports was applied in Moldova in 2024–2025. The current regime will be temporary and will expire on October 31, 2026.

Tags: licensing, grain, oilseeds, imports, Moldova