Imported food products without Ukrainian text on the packaging will appear in Ukraine

In Ukraine, during the transition period, stores may sell imported prepackaged food products whose packaging does not contain text in Ukrainian. At the same time, the buyer must, in any case, receive all required information about the product in the official language free of charge before purchasing it.

This concerns changes to the labeling rules for imported prepackaged food products. 

The Cabinet of Ministers, by Resolution No. 1167, established a transitional procedure following the phasing out of certain exemptions that were in effect during martial law.

The transitional mechanism for these products will remain in effect until April 1, 2027.

One of the main changes concerns imported prepackaged products whose packaging contains information in a foreign language.

Until April 1, 2027, under conditions established by the government, such products may be imported into Ukraine, placed on the market, and sold even without the required information in Ukrainian directly on the packaging or label.

However, this does not mean that the product can be sold without any information in Ukrainian at all.

The buyer must have access to the necessary information in the official language before paying for the product. In addition, a batch of such imported prepackaged products must be accompanied by complete information about it in Ukrainian at all stages of the food supply chain.

This information may be available in either paper or electronic format.

Thus, the mere absence of a Ukrainian translation directly on a package of cookies, a chocolate bar, a box of pasta, or any other imported product does not in itself mean that its sale is illegal.

Stores have several options for complying with the labeling requirements. The main thing is that the information be free, accessible, and clearly displayed, and that the buyer be able to review it before purchasing the product.

Specifically, Ukrainian-language information may be:

• directly next to the product on the shelf;
• on a paper or electronic price tag;
• on an information terminal;
• in printed form;
• on the store’s website;
• in a mobile app;
• via a QR code.

For example, the original foreign labeling may remain on the packaging, while a QR code may be placed next to the product on the shelf or on the price tag. After scanning it, the customer should receive the necessary information in Ukrainian.

Therefore, Ukrainians who see an imported product without a translated label should check the price tag, the information on the shelf, the QR code, or the store’s online resources.

If the required information in Ukrainian cannot be obtained before making a purchase, the market operator is not exempt from the requirements established by law.

Separate rules apply to the online sale of food products.

The required information must be available to the buyer at the time of purchase, not after the package is received.

For products sold remotely, mandatory information in Ukrainian—except for data on the minimum shelf life or “use by” date—must be available to the consumer at the time of sale.

In other words, a person ordering an imported product online must have the opportunity to review the information required by law in advance.

A situation where a buyer first pays for the product and then, upon delivery, sees all the information about it for the first time—and only in a foreign language—does not comply with the principle of information accessibility prior to sale.

Separately, the government has established rules regarding products that have already been imported and legally placed on the market under transitional rules.

After the transition period ends, such products will not need to be automatically removed from store shelves.

If a product was imported and placed on the market in accordance with the established requirements, it will be permitted to be sold even after April 1, 2027—until the end of its minimum shelf life or use-by date.

Thus, the transition should occur gradually, without the need to massively withdraw products already lawfully placed on the market solely due to changes in labeling requirements.

A separate rule applies to products for which an uninterrupted supply may be of particular importance.

During the period of martial law, baby food and food products for special medical purposes labeled in a foreign language may be imported into Ukraine as humanitarian aid.

Their recognition as humanitarian aid, passage across the state border, customs clearance, receipt, distribution, and monitoring of their intended use will be carried out in accordance with a separate procedure established by the government for humanitarian shipments.

Resolution No. 1167 also contains a provision regarding trademarks on food packaging.

During martial law, the primary packaging may bear a trademark that differs from the trademark on other packaging, containers, or wrappers of the same product.

However, an important condition applies: the food products in question must be produced by the same market operator.

This provision takes into account situations where a single manufacturer produces products under different trademarks or uses different packaging options.

Meanwhile, Ukrainians remain concerned about food prices. In September, egg prices rose by 16–38% depending on the brand and region, meat prices by 5–10%, dairy products by 4–8%, and grains by an average of 6%.

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy states that it has not observed any abnormal or speculative markups.

Among the reasons cited for the rise in food prices are, in particular, logistics costs, which alone can add an average of about 2.5% to the final cost of products.

As a reminder, at the end of September, a 3–4-liter pot of classic Ukrainian borscht cost about 153 UAH. Compared to the calculation from September 17, the cost of the dish has risen by more than 8 UAH.

On Ukraine’s domestic market, prices for onions have risen since the beginning of this week. Average wholesale prices are already 21% higher than they were at the end of last week.

A gradual increase in prices for imported medications is expected in Ukraine due to fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate, rising fuel costs, and higher delivery expenses. This was reported by Oleksandr Komarida, chairman of the board of the European Pharmaceutical Association.