Ukraine: new food standards

New standards and technical requirements have been introduced for foods and food labelling in Ukraine but will not become mandatory until the transitional period ends on 1 May 2009.

These apply to all food either manufactured in or imported into Ukraine which is then distributed through retail or wholesale outlets, restaurants, preschools or medical/preventative health institutions.

The changes include a requirement for food labels/packaging to state (in Ukrainian):

• the name of the food (in upper case, in a single colour and in a font 50% larger than the other information provided)
• the address of the manufacturer’s registered office and main place of business (and in the manufacturer’s own language if it wishes) and the registered office of the packer and/or exporter (if not also the manufacturer)
• the date of production and of packaging

Other changes include:

• banning the labelling of products as ‘green’ products
• requiring products made from GMOs to be labelled in accordance with EU law
• requiring all products placed on the Ukrainian market to refer to relevant technical requirements
• a new definition of biologically active dietary supplements

Law:

• Ukrainian national standard DSTU 4518:2008
• Regulation (EC) No. 1830/2003 and Directive 2001/18/EC
• Order No. 267 of the State Committee for Technical Regulations and Consumer Policy “On Approval of the National Standard and Annulment of Normative Act”, dated 4 August 2008.
• Order No. 375 of the State Committee for Technical Regulations and Consumer Policy “On Amendment of Order No. 267 as of 4 August 2008”, dated 29 October 2008.