Organic market in Ukraine

Organic market in Ukraine is a segment of the economy aimed at the production, circulation and consumption of organic products. The organic market in Ukraine includes the cultivation, production and/or circulation of various agri-food products in accordance with the organic production standards established by Ukrainian and/or international legislation. This market is an important segment of the Ukrainian agriculture and consumer market, which contributes to the preservation of the environment, maintenance of soil, plant, animal and human health, and development of sustainable agriculture.

Domestic market for organic products

In Ukraine, as of 31 December 2022, the total area of agricultural land under organic production and in-conversion is 263,619 hectares (0.6% of the total area of agricultural land in Ukraine), including the area of organic agricultural land – 246,126 hectares, the area of agricultural land in-conversion – 17,493 hectares. The total number of operators is 462, including 380 agricultural producers.^[1]

In recent years, before 24 February 2022, the domestic market increased in sales and the range of organic products continued to expand.

Due to Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, domestic sales of Ukrainian organic products decreased by 36% in volume (6,280 tons) and 48% in value (about US$17 million) in 2022 compared to 2021.^[2]

The range of Ukrainian organic products on the domestic market includes milk and dairy products, vegetables, fruits and mushrooms, cereals and groats, flour, seeds, snacks, eggs, meat products, juices, beverages, pastes, canned products, oils, condiments and spices, sugar and other products, including bakery products, varenyky (dumplings with different fillings), pelmeni (meat dumplings), honey, chocolate, and tea and coffee.

Export of Ukrainian organic products

During 2022, despite the full-scale war Ukraine exported 245,600 metric tons of organic products in the amount of US$219 million^[3] to 36 countries around the world,^[4] which is almost the same as in 2021 (261,000 metric tonnes, US$222 million).^[5] 95% of organic products from Ukraine were exported to European countries. Most products were exported by rail and road. Export volumes by vessels decreased, in particular, air transportation for export from Ukraine became impossible.

The largest importing countries of Ukrainian organic products in 2022 were the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic. Ukrainian organic producers also exported to some countries in Asia and North America.^[6]

The most exported organic products from Ukraine included corn, soybeans, and wheat. Other exports included sunflower oil, sunflower cake, sunflower seeds, frozen blueberries, barley, rapeseed, millet, and other products.^[7]

According to the European Commission's Report, in 2022, Ukraine ranked the 3rd out of 125 countries by volume of organic products imported to the EU. Thus, in 2022, the EU imported 2.73 million tonnes of organic agri-food products, including 219 thousand tonnes (8%) from Ukraine, which is 85% of total Ukrainian organic export. Thus, Ukraine had leading positions among the exporting countries to the EU, having exported 93 thousand tonnes (77.1%) of cereals (excluding wheat and rice) and 20 thousand tonnes (22%) of organic oilseeds (excluding soybeans).^[8]

Legislative regulation of the organic market in Ukraine

As of March 2024, organic production in Ukraine is regulated by the Law of Ukraine "On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products",^[9] as well as relevant by-laws.^[10]

Regarding the history of development and implementation of organic legislation in Ukraine, initially, on 21 April 2011, the

In 2014, the Law "On the Production and Circulation of Organic Agricultural Products and Raw Materials"[12] was adopted. This was the main legislative act in the field of organic market regulation until 2018.

Already on 10 July 2018, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products” No. 2496, and on 2 August 2019 it was enacted.^[13]

In May 2023, the National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine issued the first accreditation certificate to Organic Standard LLC. In June 2023, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy included Organic Standard LLC in the State Register of Certification Bodies in the Field of Organic Production and Circulation of Organic Products,^[14] which allowed it to start certifying organic production and/or circulation of organic products in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation.

In August 2023, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy launched the Register of Operators that Produce Organic Products in Compliance with the Legislation in Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products.^[14]

Labelling of organic products

State logo for organic products

Labelling of products put into circulation and sold as organic products is carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products”. A product may be labelled as an organic if it is produced following legal requirements in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products and contains at least 95% of organic ingredients of agricultural origin (by weight, excluding water and table salt) and no more than 5 per cent (by weight) of non-organic ingredients included in the List of substances (ingredients, components) authorised for use in organic production and permitted for use in food. Organic production of such a product shall be confirmed by a certificate.^[15]

Organic products put into circulation and sold shall be labelled with the state logo for organic products.

The state logo for organic products shall be placed exclusively on the products produced according to the Law of Ukraine “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products”, which is confirmed by a certificate that ensures that the production process and circulation of products comply with the legal requirements in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products.

The state logo is approved by Order No. 67 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy from 22 February 2019, can be applied to any packaging, label (sticker), consumer packaging, back label, bottle collar, docket, cork, information sheet, documents, statement, and other packaging elements accompanying the organic products.  

The state logo for organic products is registered as a trademark and belongs to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.^[16][17]

The requirements for the correct use of the state logo for organic products and their labelling are described on the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, as well as in the Guidelines for the use of the state logo for organic products.

In September 2023, during the conference “Organic Day in Ukraine”^[18] the first 50 Ukrainian organic producers who were certified according to the Ukrainian organic legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products^[19] and can label their products with the state logo were awarded. The list of organic companies includes Galeks-Agro (Zhytomyr), Agrowest Group (Zhytomyr), Agrofirm Ukraina-Govtva (Poltava), Okolytsia (Poltava), Home Chicken (Zhytomyr), Shapovaliuk Mykola Viktorovych (Vinnytsia), Zabolotniuk Viacheslav Petrovich (Vinnytsia), Bilyk Viacheslav Volodymyrovych (Vinnytsia), Organic Original (Kyiv), Kucher Bohdan (Cherkasy), Petrovich-2016 (Rivne), Sad-Logistik (Vinnytsia), Kyianivka (Vinnytsia), Food Pack (Kyiv), Komarivtsi (Vinnytsia), Pfanner Agro (Vinnytsia), Mеlnyk Tetiana (Rivne), Sirius (Zhytomyr), Bio Farming (Zhytomyr), Cepheus-Eko (Zhytomyr), Agrofit (Dnipropetrovsk), Molfar Eko (Zakarpattia), Dibrova Farms (Rivne), Dyvo Yagoda (Kharkiv), Agrofirma Terravino (Kherson), Yahidky (Kyiv), Organic Life (Kyiv), Snau (Sumy), Pushkar Galyna (Volyn), Agrofirma Zolotyi Kolos (Kmelnytskyi), Deddens Agro (Rivne), Kunivske (Kmelnytskyi), Ritter Bio Agro (Rivne), Tsviliov M. M. (Sumy), Granit-Agro (Poltava), Agro-Sula (Poltava), Lyashchivka (Cherkasy), Svitanok1 (Poltava), Rublivskyi Elevator (Poltava), Bio-Organik (Zhytomyr), Grona Agro (Kyiv), Agro Organic (Rivne), Zhyva-Zemlia (Volyn), PAE Im.T.G. Shevchenka (Kyiv), RSN-Trade (Rivne), Skvyrskyi Grain Processing Factory (Kyiv), Eco-Forest Company (Kyiv), Organic Meat Product (Zhytomyr), Kalenskyi Oleksandr (Zhytomyr), AG Group (Kyiv), Organic Agro (Ternopil), Organik Milk (Zhytomyr), Lan-Agro (Poltava), Arnika Organic (Poltava).^[20]

Key stakeholders in the organic sector in Ukraine

• Organic Initiative is a public association that brings together organic stakeholders which aims to promote organic value added trade on the domestic and international markets and contribute to overall organic sector development in Ukraine.
• Organic Ukraine is a union of producers of certified organic products, established to form and develop the Ukrainian and the global organic markets, and to protect the interests of Ukrainian certified producers both in Ukraine and abroad.
• Organic Federation of Ukraine is an organisation that aims to comprehensively promote the values and worldview inherent in the supporters of the global organic movement, improving the efficiency of agricultural production with the simultaneous development of the modern world and domestic technologies safe for nature and people, and promote the organic movement in Ukraine.
• Information Centre “Green Dossier” is an international charitable organisation that promotes the principles of sustainable development and their integration into national policies and government programs by disseminating objective environmental and social information to mass media, local communities, government and business, involving them in practical action.
• Organic Standard is the first and only Ukrainian certification body that inspects and certifies organic production. The company provides services to more than 600 operators, which is more than 75% of all organic operators in Ukraine.
• Ecoterra is a Lviv-based NGO that aims to engage the general public in the problem of pesticide use both on farms and large households and on small plots of individual citizens.
• Ukrainian Berries Association is a business association that unites all professional players of fruit and berry market. The members of the association are exclusively legal entities which are specialized in the growing and processing berries and stone fruits, supplying planting material, plant protection products, material and technical resources etc. to cooperatives, public organizations, educational institutions and other representatives of the sector.
• OrganicInfo.ua is a specialised information portal for the promotion of organic production, organic food, and sustainable lifestyles. The portal contains all the information about the organic market of Ukraine: legislative framework, history of the organic movement in Ukraine and the world, practical information for organic operators, useful information for consumers, results of organic market research, news, and announcements of organic events. The information is available in Ukrainian and English.
• Organic Knowledge Platform is a web portal that brings together all the scientific, informational, and practical materials available in Ukraine about the organic sector and makes them accessible to a wide range of scientists, teachers, students, practitioners and members of the organic movement. All materials published on the platform are evaluated by independent industry experts for their relevance and quality.

Public authorities and government agencies

• The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is the central executive body that develops the regulatory framework for the organic sector in Ukraine, maintains the state registers of certification bodies, operators and organic seeds and planting material, and provides training and professional development for organic inspectors.  
• The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is the central executive body authorised to conduct state supervision (control) in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products in accordance with the organic legislation of Ukraine. This includes state supervision (control) over compliance with the legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products: inspection of certification bodies; random inspection of operators; monitoring of organic products on the market to prevent the entry of non-organic products labelled as organic.
• The State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (EEPO), which aims to promote the development and support of small and medium-sized enterprises, support and promote the export of goods, works and services of Ukrainian producers in accordance with the program documents of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and other state planning documents, started supporting the organic export market of Ukraine in 2019. EEPO contributes to the development of the Ukrainian organic exporters’ potential, promotion of the organic sector and formation of a positive image of Ukraine as a reliable supplier of organic products abroad. EEPO actively supports and organises various events for organic exporters, including national pavilions at key international trade fairs, such as BIOFACH (Nuremberg, Germany), Anuga (Cologne, Germany), SIAL (Paris, France), and Middle East Organic & Natural Products Expo (Dubai, UAE).^[21] EEPO also created the Catalogue of Ukrainian Exporters of Organic Products in partnership with Organic Standard certification body.^[22]

Under the patronage and with the participation of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in cooperation with the organic sector stakeholders and with the support of international development partners, various activities take place for the development of the organic market in Ukraine.^[23]

International technical assistance projects and programmes in the organic sector of Ukraine

• The Swiss-Ukrainian program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), financed by Switzerland and implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland).
• The Swiss-Ukrainian program "Organic Trade for Development in Eastern Europe" (OT4D), financed by Switzerland through Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by IFOAM - Organics International in partnership HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland). 
• Project "German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture (COA).

The project/program representatives provide their expertise during development of the organic legislative framework and implementation of the legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products, and support various activities related to organic production. 

In 2024, Ukraine was successfully represented at the world's largest international trade fair of organic products BIOFACH, held in Nuremberg, Germany. The feedback from exhibitors and partners on the work of the National Pavilion of Ukraine at BIOFACH 2024, which was organised by the State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” (EEPO, Ukraine), the n ational project Diia.Business, under the patronage of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, in partnership with Organic Ukraine NGO and Organic Initiative Public Association, with the support of Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland); EBRD, funded by Switzerland through the EBRD's Small Business Impact Fund; and Western NIS Enterprise Fund was recorded in a video.^[24]

In order to promote organic production in Ukraine among potential Ukrainian producers and foreign investors, a video about organic production “Organic in Ukraine” was created in cooperation with the Swiss-Ukrainian project "Organic Market Development in Ukraine".^[25]

Also, at the request of the project “German-Ukrainian Cooperation in Organic Agriculture”, the video production company Svoie Kino created a film about the organic sector of Ukraine during the war "Ukrainian Organic Movement: Achievements, War, Prospects".^[26]

See also

• Organic food
• Organic farming
• Organic certification

Sources

• OrganicInfo.ua
• Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine - Organic production
• The State Institution “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” - Organic Food
• Law of Ukraine "On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products"#

References