“The European Union (EU) has announced funding for food safety reforms in Ukraine.
The EU will provide €12 million ($14 million) as part of the third phase of the EU4SmallFarms and EU4SaferFood projects.
The aim is to strengthen rural development, support small-scale farmers, and help Ukraine align its legislation and practices in agriculture, food safety, animal health and welfare, and phytosanitary policy with EU standards. It is part of a broader partnership which is helping Ukraine prepare for EU membership and joining the internal market.
“The European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine on its path towards EU integration, including in the areas of agriculture and food safety. This allocation will contribute to improving the quality and safety of agricultural products, fostering rural development, and creating new opportunities for Ukrainian producers to access the EU market,” said Stefan Schleuning, head of cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
Projects will run for 40 months and be implemented with institutions such as the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
The purpose of the EU4SaferFood project is to develop and implement key reforms based on EU requirements and improve the Ukrainian state control system to ensure compliance with EU standards. Phase three runs from March 2026 until July 2029 with a budget of €5.4 million ($6.2 million).
“Implementation of these projects will facilitate further approximation of Ukraine’s policy and practices with EU standards, strengthening of the state control system, and opening of new opportunities for Ukrainian business operators,” said Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
Move to digital
Ukraine has also decided to launch a pilot project to digitize the services of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
The plan is to create a single electronic system to ensure the provision of key services online and simplify the interaction of businesses with the state.
Registration of facilities, the issuing of operating permits, and other services will be gradually transferred to electronic format. A mobile application will enable inspectors to capture inspections on video. Officials said the move will shorten the time for considering applications, reduce the administrative burden, and increase the transparency of procedures.
The system is expected to cover about 2 million businesses. The introduction of digital systems is in line with EU practices in ensuring product traceability and an adequate level of consumer protection. It is part of fulfilling European integration obligations.”
Author: Joe Whitworth
Source: Food Safety News
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