Ukraine Launches New Phase of Cooperation with the EU in Food Safety
Ukraine has initiated a new phase of cooperation with the European Union aimed at enhancing food safety. In partnership with the EU representation and experts from the ILCA3 — EU4SaferFood project, a new phase of a large-scale program has started, which aims to strengthen control in the areas of food safety, animal health and welfare, as well as plant protection and quarantine.
This is reported by AgroReview
Third Phase of the Program and Key Legislative Changes
As reported by Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, this concerns the third phase of the EU program, which will last for 40 months and will contribute to real changes in the control system. According to him, this is an important step towards practical Euro-integration, as the program involves not only the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to EU requirements but also significant transformations in the operation of the relevant systems.
“This is the third phase of a large-scale EU program, which over the next 40 months will contribute to strengthening the control system in Ukraine in the areas of food safety, animal health and welfare, as well as plant protection and quarantine. For us, this is an important tool for practical Euro-integration, as it is not only about bringing legislation closer to EU requirements but about real changes in the operation of the entire system,” he emphasized.
Among the first steps, a new law on veterinary medicine came into effect on March 1. The next step will be the preparation of a new version of the law on state control and the updating of subordinate regulatory acts.
Preparation for the Implementation of European Standards
At the same time, work is ongoing to create a modern database in the area of plant health, which is necessary for the implementation of the law that will come into effect in 2028. The main focus is on strengthening phytosanitary protection and implementing new approaches to pest monitoring to ensure crop protection and compliance with the requirements of European markets.
Priority areas also include improving GMO regulation, authorizing plant protection products according to EU standards, and the digital transformation of the industry. In particular, further development of the E-food system, integration of databases, and modernization of animal identification processes are planned. The launch of specialized online courses for the professional development of industry specialists is also scheduled.