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Ukraine has made significant strides in enhancing food safety despite the ongoing conflict, but there are still areas that require attention, according to an assessment by the European Commission.
Reports on the progress of countries aspiring to join the EU cover a wide range of sectors and developments over the past year in Serbia, Moldova, Turkey, Ukraine, and Albania.
A previous article provided insight into the situation in Kosovo, Montenegro, Georgia, North Macedonia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.
Ukraine
The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is up and running with 140 employees. Market surveillance inspections and controls remain suspended, with only exceptional unscheduled actions taking place. This poses limitations on the effectiveness of surveillance and may impact the quality and safety of products, as indicated by the assessment.
A law adopted in October 2022 and implemented from October 2023 introduced a One Health approach, which involves information exchange on infectious diseases common to animals and humans. In March 2023, the government prepared a strategy and action plan for cooperation between food safety, animal, and human health authorities.
A risk analysis, assessment, and management system is in place, with the participation of food facilities. As of March 2023, 427 Ukrainian companies were eligible to export products to the EU.
Ukraine has updated its food safety monitoring plan, and import control of goods follows a risk-based approach. While Ukraine participates in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), it is not a network member. Preparations have begun to use the EU’s trade control and export control system (TRACES) within one year.
However, it is noted that further integration of food safety databases is necessary and administrative capacities need strengthening at all levels. Official controls of imports and the handling of animal by-products not for human consumption are not aligned with the EU. The implementation of legislation needs to be monitored, and disease surveillance needs to be intensified.
Turkish problems
Turkey continued to restrict imports of agricultural products from the EU. While it is a major exporter of food products to Europe, it has made limited progress on food safety. RASFF notifications for pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables sent to the EU have remained high, a trend observed since 2020.
The number of articles from Turkey detained at EU borders by customs authorities has increased. Counterfeiting concerns a range of products including food and alcohol.
No progress was made on developing the national plan for upgrading food establishments. Significant effort is needed to apply new rules on registering and approving food plants. Work is required on a strategy for raw milk and rules for producers. Turkey has yet to adopt specifications for raw milk and rules on using milk that do not meet somatic cell criteria.
The country’s provisions on funding inspections are not in line with the EU system. Turkey has also not aligned legislation on novel food or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with Europe.
Albanian assessment
Some progress has been made at the Albanian National Food Authority.