Last week, the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UDEU) presented a roadmap for the European Integration of Ukraine’s Dairy Sector in Kyiv. The document constitutes a structured plan to date for aligning the country’s dairy industry with the legislation, standards and market practice of the European Union. The event was held in partnership with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Swiss-Ukrainian Quality FOOD Trade Programme (QFTP).

The current phase of the sector’s development is characterised by the simultaneous operation of the industry under wartime conditions and its adaptation to the European regulatory framework. Consolidation has accelerated, raw milk quality has improved, and a number of processors have expanded into higher value-added segments, including cheese, infant formula and specialty fats. The process of aligning the sector with European rules is being carried out in parallel with day-to-day production, rather than postponed pending the improvement of conditions.

Topics addressed at the conference

The sessions of the conference addressed the practical dimensions of the integration process. The topics included:

the scenarios for Ukraine’s EU accession and the position of the agri-food sector within the future Single Market;

the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with the EU acquis and the institutional capacity required for its application;

the adaptation of food safety, veterinary and animal welfare standards;

the development of traceability systems, official controls and state registries of producers and processors;

the digitalisation of the dairy value chain;

the financial instruments through which the European Union may support the transition.

The discussions reflected a shared understanding that, for Ukraine’s dairy sector, the principal questions concern the pace and sequencing of integration measures and the institutional capacity required to implement them.

Photo: UAgroNL