Ukraine has committed to fully harmonizing agricultural production with the norms and rules of the European Union by the end of 2028. Such synchronization is of strategic importance, as it opens up broader opportunities for Ukrainian agricultural producers to access the EU market and at the same time strengthens control over the use of pesticides, compliance with environmental requirements and animal husbandry conditions.

As Delo.ua reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, adaptation to European standards will cover all key areas of agricultural production — from crop production to animal husbandry and export of products.

Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Vysotsky stressed that the state has a clear deadline and is not considering alternative scenarios. According to him, by 2028, Ukraine will make every effort to complete all necessary tasks, despite the significant amount of work and tight deadlines. He emphasized that without systemic adaptation, the country risks losing further opportunities to expand access to the European Union market.

One of the first steps on this path was the so-called “Year of Animal Welfare”. Since January 2026, mandatory norms for the humane treatment of animals have come into force in Ukraine. They oblige agricultural enterprises to modernize stalls, update equipment and train personnel to work according to European standards. Control extends to all stages - from keeping animals on farms to transportation and the slaughter process.

An important area of ​​reform remains the policy on genetically modified organisms. Ukraine is already moving towards consolidating the status of a GMO-free territory. Currently, the cultivation of GMO crops, in particular corn, is prohibited in the country, and only GMO-free products are supplied for export to the European Union. New legislation, which will come into force in September 2026, should finally consolidate these requirements and strengthen the system of state control.

The most difficult stage of the transformation will be the transition to European standards for plant protection, in particular regarding the use of pesticides. Farmers emphasize that it is impossible to implement such changes in one season, since production depends on long crop rotations, which usually cover 5–7 years.

A complete change in approaches to plant protection involves re-equipping machinery, updating technologies, training personnel, and revising the economic model of production. This requires significant investments and time. That is why Ukraine is negotiating with European partners on a long transition period.

The ministry emphasizes that it is impossible to physically replace pesticides in one season, as this would mean a complete restructuring of production processes. In this regard, Ukraine insists on the introduction of a transition period for the implementation of relevant standards lasting at least 10 years, which will allow the agricultural sector to adapt without losing competitiveness.