Ukraine cancels licensing of agricultural exports: what will change from December

From December 1, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to cancel licensing of exports of certain types of agricultural products. The changes include grains, legumes, oilseeds and oil. The relevant decision was made during a government meeting on November 29, 2024, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy.

The main goal of this step is to reduce the volume of permit documentation and digitalize procedures that ensure the interaction of business with the state. The government seeks to simplify export activities for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, while maintaining transparency and control over foreign trade operations.

"We are canceling the licensing of exports of a number of agricultural goods, which was previously introduced to return foreign exchange earnings. This will avoid double control by the state," said Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka. He emphasized that this step is also aimed at preventing misunderstandings during customs clearance of exports.

At the same time, the government leaves unchanged the licensing of exports of wheat, corn, sunflower seeds and rapeseed to five countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. This decision is explained by the need to maintain specific regulations on EU markets, which remain important trading partners of Ukraine.

It is also worth noting that the export guarantee regime has been maintained, which provides for a number of key requirements. Among them are the export of products exclusively by VAT payers, the establishment of minimum export prices, the absence of a negative difference between the invoice and customs value of goods. In addition, the regime includes electronic data exchange between the National Bank, the State Tax Service and the State Customs Service for enhanced control over compliance with the requirements of the legislation.

Thus, government officials expect that such changes will simplify conditions for exporters, promote the development of the agricultural sector and increase its competitiveness in global markets. At the same time, maintaining certain regulations for sensitive markets will ensure a balance between trade liberalization and economic security.