Ukraine is preparing for a major reboot of the organic market. Draft Law No. 13204-1 brings the country closer to EU standards, introduces new certification rules, stricter control over labeling, and opens up new opportunities for exports. It is especially important that small farmers also get a chance to enter the organic market without excessive costs.
The Ukrainian agricultural sector is on the verge of important changes. The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy recommended the adoption of draft law No. 13204-1, which should completely update the rules of organic production in Ukraine in accordance with European standards. The document is based on EU Regulation 2018/848 and in fact creates a new system of work for producers of organic products.
The main goal of the changes is to make the Ukrainian organic market understandable, transparent and competitive at the international level. In simple words, if the law is adopted, Ukrainian producers will work according to the same rules as farmers in the European Union countries. This means uniform requirements for cultivation, production, certification, labeling and quality control of products. This opens up wider opportunities for exports to the EU without additional barriers.
One of the key innovations is increased control over the use of the words “organic”, “eco”, “bio”. Only those producers who officially undergo certification will be able to use such labels. This is an important step in combating pseudo-ecological marketing, when consumers are misled by beautiful inscriptions without real confirmation of quality. Serious sanctions are provided for violations.
Another important change is the launch of a new system of state registers in the field of organic production. It will be easier to track producers, certification bodies and products. This will increase trust for buyers, and for businesses – more transparent rules of the game.
The draft law pays special attention to small producers. If earlier certification was often too expensive for small farms, now a group certification mechanism is provided. Up to 2,000 producers will be able to unite into one group and go through the procedure together. This significantly reduces costs for each participant and makes the organic market more accessible even for small farms.
In fact, this can be a serious impetus for the development of rural areas, the creation of new jobs and an increase in the added value of Ukrainian products. Organics cease to be just a niche segment and can become a real part of the country’s large agricultural economy.
For Ukrainian farmers, this is not just another law. It is a chance to integrate into the European market, work according to modern rules and increase competitiveness. Yes, the new requirements will mean more responsibility, but at the same time they will open up new prospects for those who are ready to work transparently.
In short: draft law No. 13204-1 is about trust, new opportunities and the transition of Ukrainian organics to a qualitatively different level. For both large agricultural holdings and small farmers, this could be the beginning of a new era.
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