Representatives of the European Business Association (EBA) and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) have discussed uncontrolled purchases of grain from farmers by unknown companies using cash foreign currency.

According to an EBA report issued on Monday, the meeting was held on August 31 at the NBU with the participation of deputy heads of NBU Oleh Churiy and Vladyslav Rashkovan, representatives of the EBA Grain & Oilseed Committee, the State Fiscal Service, the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry, and the Finance Ministry.

At the meeting, business representatives said that the entire grain purchase, processing and exports system has been under threat since June 2015 due to illegal purchases of grain of the new harvest.

EBA representatives said that a group of unknown persons and companies buy grain directly from agricultural producers, and pay in cash foreign currency.

"These illegal actions could have several negative consequences for the whole sector. Now, the discounted price of Ukrainian grain has been increased," the report said.

As reported, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has instructed the State Fiscal Service, together with grain market operators, to take measures to withdraw the market from the shadows.