Ukraine Has Changed the Rules for Organic Products
Ukraine has updated its rules governing the production, distribution, and labeling of organic products. The new requirements are intended to bring Ukrainian legislation in line with European Union standards and to more clearly regulate the use of the term “organic” on products.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law of Ukraine No. 4921-IX “On State Regulation of Organic Production, Distribution, and Labeling of Organic Products,” which was drafted based on Bill No. 13204-1.
The document provides for updating the rules governing the organic products market in accordance with European Union legislation and establishes a unified approach to its regulation. It is also intended to make the requirements for organic products more understandable for both market participants and consumers.
As noted, the need to adopt the law stems from the entry into force in the EU of the new Regulation (EU) No. 2018/848, which has significantly changed approaches to regulating organic production. In particular, the document provides for stricter requirements for organic products, improvements to the state control system, an expansion of the list of products subject to certification, and the introduction of new requirements for certification bodies and operators.
The law establishes uniform requirements for the production, cultivation, distribution, and labeling of organic products. This is intended to ensure that the “organic” label is used only for products that meet the established criteria and to provide consumers with reliable information about their characteristics.
Key changes:
- the introduction of uniform, transparent, and clear rules for the production, distribution, and labeling of organic products in accordance with current European Union legislation;
- improvement of the state control system in the field of organic production, which will increase the effectiveness of oversight of compliance with organic legislation and help reduce instances of unscrupulous production and labeling abuses;
- stimulating the development of the agricultural sector and rural areas through the diversification of production, increasing the added value of products, and creating new jobs in the production, processing, and logistics of organic products;
- facilitating the transition to sustainable agricultural development in line with the goals of the European Green Deal. This, in turn, will contribute to climate change adaptation, the conservation of biodiversity, and the improvement of the environment.
In addition, the law provides for the introduction of a new system of state control in the field of organic production, the possibility of group certification of operators, the expansion of state registries, and the implementation of a number of European Union regulations governing organic production.
It is expected that the implementation of the law will promote the development of organic production, expand exports of Ukrainian organic products, and bring national legislation into compliance with European Union requirements in this area.
This was reported by the Judicial and Legal Gazette.
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