Previously, The Ukrainian Week has covered the mixed feelings shared by European farmers regarding the import of Ukrainian agricultural products. Their primary concern revolved around the increasing influx of Ukrainian grain, poultry, eggs, and sugar to the EU markets. In addition to this, there has been a rising debate in Europe regarding the quality of Ukrainian products and the alleged noncompliance with cultivation standards. Some people have argued that the meat and eggs exported by Ukraine do not meet the regulations set by the EU.
“European farmers’ potential concerns about the quality of Ukrainian products can be logically attributed to conflicts of interest. They serve as direct competitors to Ukrainian producers in the European Union markets. On the other hand, Ukrainian agri-food products not only consistently maintain their positions in global and various regional markets but have also long proven their quality and compliance with standards. Even prior to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was already selling poultry meat in EU markets in volumes of thousands of tons, totalling millions of dollars,” explains Bogdan Dukhnytsky, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Agrarian Economics, in a conversation with The Ukrainian Week.
Throughout 2021, Ukraine exported 85 thousand tons of poultry meat worth $198 million to the European Union. Additionally, nearly 8 thousand tons of eggs, amounting to approximately $10 million, were exported, according to data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. In the midst of a full-scale Russian invasion in 2023, Ukrainian exporters sold 173 thousand tons of poultry meat to the EU, valued at $407 million. They also exported almost 33 thousand tons of eggs, amounting to $39 million. Against the backdrop of a significant increase in export figures last year, the European Union has emerged as the primary market for Ukrainian-produced eggs and poultry.
We must understand that the EU has always been meticulous in evaluating the products entering its markets. These standards have historically incentivised Ukrainian businesses to enhance the quality of goods and services and to prioritise the well-being of their employees and the environment.
For example, one such requirement involves phasing out mercury lamps in production, which contributes to environmental pollution. Instead, they have transitioned to using LED lamps. Additionally, regular environmental audits of enterprises are conducted. Furthermore, exporters certified by the European Union may not undergo a similar assessment in other countries or economic zones. This means that their products are recognized as safe for consumers worldwide.
“It is important to understand the specifics of selling food products in the European market. We are not talking about raw materials—grains, oilseeds—but rather about processed products and goods with added value. Among these, including chicken meat and eggs, most are sold in supermarket chains. Very often, supermarkets require a necessary condition for the product to be present on their shelves—a special certificate. For instance, Organic, BRC, GlobalG.A.P., and so forth,” says Bohdan Dukhnytsky.
Such certification is voluntary for Ukrainian companies. However, it provides them with the opportunity to proactively confirm the quality of their products to European importers. For Ukrainian sector-specific businesses, acquiring phytosanitary or veterinary certificates, along with the EUR.1 certificate of origin, is mandatory. This serves as a crucial requirement for exporting products within the EU’s free trade zone.
Furthermore, for animal-origin products like dairy, a permit system based on EU audit findings is implemented. As of the end of last year, Ukraine counted 55 dairy sector enterprises with such permits, as reported by the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agricultural Economics.” It is guaranteed that shipments of products from countries or territories with outbreaks of animal or bird diseases cannot cross the EU customs border. This poses a potential risk to human health.
“In 2020, the EU and other countries imposed bans twice on Ukrainian poultry. Throughout 2021, these restrictions also applied to poultry that could have been imported into the European Union from regions of our country where bird flu was detected. However, once the situation stabilised, the bans were lifted, and exports resumed as usual. For instance, in 2022-2023, there were numerous outbreaks of bird flu in both European and neighbouring countries. This, in turn, impacted the overall market conditions and pricing dynamics in the global market for related products,” explained Bohdan Dukhnitsky.
Nevertheless, these measures are not directly linked to quality issues with poultry or eggs. They are simply a necessary response from the EU to prevent the spread of infectious bird diseases. Thus, Ukrainian products exported to European markets have the necessary certificates and are guaranteed to be safe for consumers. At the same time, the EU requirements encourage Ukrainian businesses to improve the quality of goods and services and pay more attention to the welfare of employees and the environment.
