Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Andrzej Lepper said on Wednesday that Poland could impose restrictions on food exports via Poland to Ukraine and Russia if the European Union fails to help his nation resume its food exports to the two countries, th Polish news agency PAP reported.

The warning came one day after Ukrainian chief veterinarian Ivan Bisiuk said Ukraine would not lift its ban on Polish meat due to repeated illegal transporting of the product to Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine imposed the bans on Polish meat exports in November and March respectively on the grounds of illegal exports. Until then, the two countries bought roughly 10 percent of all Polish meat.

"We can impose restrictions on food transported to Ukraine and Russia through Poland from western countries. If the EU does not get involved in solving this conflict, we can impose such restrictions very soon," Lepper said.

While voicing his support for Poland being in the EU, Lepper said membership must be based on equal rights.

"What partnership are we talking about if the EU countries are engaged in a normal trade with Russia and Ukraine and do not want to defend Poland?" he said.

Source: Xinhua