Ukraine aligns agricultural standards with current European requirements

At the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food of Ukraine, participants in a strategic session on food quality and safety presented an Action Plan aimed at adapting the Ukrainian agricultural sector to the European "From Farm to Fork" strategy. The document foresees an integrated plant protection system with minimal use of chemicals, implementation of safe agricultural practices, and improvement of animal health to meet international standards. It is believed that the implementation of these measures will help Ukraine not only guarantee the quality of food products for the domestic market but also strengthen cooperation with the EU in trade.

It is noteworthy that the European Commission has already presented a new strategy for the development of the agri-food sector by 2040. Instead of strengthening environmental standards, the focus is now on simplifying regulation and increasing the attractiveness of the farming profession. This means a departure from the "From Farm to Fork" strategy, which was part of the EU's Green Deal. Ambitious environmental goals, particularly a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030, have proven challenging to implement. One of the main principles of the new strategy is "simplification." This primarily concerns the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy—a subsidy program that accounts for almost a third of the EU budget. Additionally, the EU will not implement mandatory food labeling under the NutriScore system. Instead, the focus will be on product origin information and animal welfare standards.

It is important to note that despite the change in course, specific reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy are not yet proposed, with only an emphasis on the need for a fairer distribution of subsidies in favor of small farmers. Instead, more attention is being paid to food security. The EU will support farmers who contribute to Europe's strategic autonomy in the production of key agricultural products. One of the main objectives of the new policy is to ensure a stable income for farmers. Many farmers face a shortage of funds and a high risk of poverty, acknowledged the European Commission. To address this problem, a "generational renewal" strategy will be presented by the end of the year, which will ease young farmers' access to land, financing, and training. There are also plans to strengthen control over unfair trading practices so that farmers are not forced to sell products below cost.

Regarding international trade, the EU aims to diversify markets and reduce dependence on individual suppliers. In particular, Brussels will demand that imported goods meet European standards, especially regarding pesticide use and animal welfare.

Moreover, at a time when Ukraine is striving towards the European Union and adapting its norms to European legislation, particularly in the agricultural sector, four EU countries (Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia) have appealed to the European Commission to reinstate pre-war quotas for agricultural products from Ukraine. These countries are calling for protective measures and compliance with EU standards for Ukrainian products to protect the interests of their farmers. It was previously reported that the European Commission may review the autonomous trade measures (ATM) for Ukraine, which were introduced after the onset of Russia's full-scale aggression, twice extended for a year, and now expire on June 5 of the current year. As stated by the Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, the autonomous trade measures, which entail traditional liberalization, will remain in effect until June 5, and the European side intends to ensure a smooth transition and rapid implementation of mutual liberalization of trade in agri-food products going forward. For European politicians, this is a very delicate task, given the sensitivity of certain products for the markets of EU member states.