As screening of Ukraine for entry into the EU continues, the country has implemented a new Ukrainian Rapid Notification System for Threats Related to Food and Feed, which is similar to the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).

Like RASFF, the Ukranian Rapid Notification System will collect information about food safety incidents so that the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection can quickly facilitate actions to protect human and animal health. Specifically, state employees, industry, laboratories, and healthcare institutions will be required to report instances of non-compliance or potential danger regarding food and feed products or relevant cases of illness.

The Rapid Notification System officially launched on November 19, fulfilling Order No. 478 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

Additionally, Ukraine has been deemed “moderately prepared” to align its food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary regulations with that of the EU.

The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine calls Chapter 12: Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy as one of the “most complex” chapters in the negotiation process for entry into the EU, requiring alignment with more than 2,000 European legal acts. These policy areas include: animal health and welfare and official control of animal-derived products, biosafety, human nutrition, food processing technologies, pesticides, plant health, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other issues.

Chapter 13: Fisheries and Aquaculture are next on the docket for assessment.