In parallel, the geography of Ukrainian agricultural exports is expanding.
Ukraine continues to gradually adapt its agricultural sector to the requirements of the European Union, trying to maintain the competitiveness of domestic producers. At the same time, the implementation of European standards is already contributing to the expansion of export opportunities for Ukrainian products and strengthening the country's position in the global agricultural market. Ukraine has completed screening under Chapter 12 of the negotiation process with the EU - "Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy". During the work, the EU directives and regulations that are to be implemented into Ukrainian legislation were examined in detail.
After signing the Association Agreement with the EU, Ukraine has been systematically implementing European standards and approaches. A significant part of Ukrainian producers already work in accordance with the requirements of the European Union. This is confirmed by export indicators: agricultural products form more than half of Ukrainian exports, and the key sales market for them is the EU countries. This dynamics indicates the competitiveness of Ukrainian products and their compliance with European requirements.
They are also discussing the adaptation of farmers to new norms in the field of animal welfare and the use of plant protection products. The transition to the updated standards is planned to be carried out in stages, taking into account the capabilities of Ukrainian farmers. The main changes are enshrined in the updated Association Agreement and provide for a transition period until the end of 2028.
In addition, Ukraine continues to implement new rules for the use of pesticides, while seeking transition periods for agricultural producers so that compliance with EU requirements does not weaken the competitiveness of the industry.
According to specialized associations, the new regulation may affect about 10 million hectares of farmland, so the issue of the transition period remains one of the key issues during the negotiations.
In parallel, Ukraine is expanding the geography of agricultural exports. Among the priority destinations are countries in Asia and the Middle East, in particular Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the USA and Vietnam. In order to enter these markets, work is underway to harmonize veterinary and sanitary requirements, as well as to pass international audits.
As the Deputy Minister emphasized, the compliance of Ukrainian producers' products with EU standards also contributes to entry into the markets of third countries. In many countries, permission to export to the European Union is considered as confirmation of quality and compliance with international requirements, which further strengthens the position of Ukrainian agricultural products on the world market.
Source: dengi.ua
