New labeling standards: manufacturers will need at least two years
23 March 17:55
Ukraine is harmonizing its legislation with European standards, particularly in the food production sector. This also involves revising the national standards that govern the industry, according to the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
“For manufacturers, the transition to new standards means they will need to change markings, labels, packaging, and a great deal of other documentation. At the meeting, manufacturers spoke of needing at least two years to implement these changes without unnecessary losses or disruptions to operations,” said Vitaliy Petruk, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
According to him, the law already allows for the establishment of a transition period and the simultaneous application of standards. However, a separate rule applies if Ukraine adopts European standards as national ones.
“In this case, any Ukrainian standard that conflicts with a European one must be repealed. We are working to ensure that all these instruments are applied effectively, predictably, and in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and the country’s European integration commitments,” explained Petruk.
As Vitaliy Petruk noted, they specifically discussed the situation where companies operate under technical specifications but face differing interpretations of these rules in public procurement or during inspections. Such discrepancies create additional risks for manufacturers, even when they operate within existing regulations. A unified approach is needed in applying safety requirements for products.
“We also discussed the issue of funding efforts to adopt European and Ukrainian standards in the food industry, as well as the work of technical standardization committees. When rules change, businesses must be informed of these changes in a timely manner, have the opportunity to participate in the development of decisions, and understand what resources the industry will use to navigate this process,” explained the State Secretary of the Ministry.
According to him, they agreed to create a separate working group with business representatives to systematically address all issues. In a month, they will review what has been accomplished and where the ministry’s assistance is still needed.
Earlier, the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture reported that Ukraine had completed the development of the core legislative framework for the protection of geographical indications (GI) for food products, wines, and spirits in accordance with EU standards.
The finalization of subordinate legislation is currently underway. An expert commission under the ministry has already begun approving specifications that confirm a product’s connection to a specific territory.
Under the new rules, products with old labeling may only be sold as remaining stock produced before January 1, 2026. Such packaging must bear a special mark indicating the date of production, and their distribution will be monitored by authorized bodies.
