Final stage of the EU screening on food safety launched in Brussels

Negotiations between Ukraine and the European Commission have started in Brussels within the framework of the screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU standards for Chapter 12: “Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy”.

The Ukrainian delegation is led by Chief Negotiator and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka. The delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of economy, environment and agriculture led by Deputy Minister, Taras Vysotskyi, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, as well as Members of the Parliament of Ukraine.

Chapter 12 covers comprehensive measures to ensure food safety and public health, as well as to support animal health and welfare and plant protection. It includes the alignment of Ukrainian legislation with EU standards on food safety and quality control, veterinary and sanitary measures, disease prevention, and phytosanitary protection of plants, seeds, and planting material from harmful organisms.

The screening will last for five days in a hybrid format. On the first day, issues related to animal health and official controls were discussed. In the following days, attention will focus on animal welfare requirements, food and feed safety, as well as plant protection, seed and planting material quality, and pest prevention.

Background: In autumn 2025, the official screening regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU is taking place for Cluster 5 “Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion Policy”. Within this framework, screenings will be conducted for three negotiation chapters: 11 “Agriculture and Rural Development”, 12 “Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy” and 13 “Fisheries and Aquaculture”, as well as 22 “Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments” and 33 “Financial and Budgetary Provisions”.

As well as 22 “Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments” and 33 “Financial and Budgetary Provisions”.

Cluster 5 is the final one of six Clusters in the framework of bilateral screening meetings, and it includes five negotiation chapters: 11, 12, 13, 22, and 33. Based on the screening results, a plan will be developed for the further implementation of EU regulations into Ukrainian legislation. The screening marks the beginning of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.