EU adopts important decision granting Ukrainian oilseeds and beet market access

The European Parliament has adopted an important decision granting Ukrainian oilseeds (sunflower, rapeseed, soybean) and beet market access to the European Union. This allows Ukraine to expand seed exports to EU countries, taking into account new changes in legislation that ensure the equivalence of the certification system used in Ukraine.

According to the press service of the Seed Association of Ukraine, the European Parliament adopted a decision amending EU Council Decision 2003/17/EC of December 16, 2002. The amendments concern the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries, in particular regarding the production of crop seeds. This opens up new opportunities for Ukrainian producers on the European market.

It is worth noting that since autumn 2020, Ukraine already has equivalence for cereal, sorghum and corn seeds. Now Ukrainian producers have the opportunity to export not only these crops, but also oilseed and beet seeds, which is an important step in expanding the country's agricultural potential.

The European Parliament's decision provides for amendments to European legislation, after which the document will be published in the Official Journal of the EU. The changes will come into force twenty days after official publication. This will create new opportunities for Ukrainian farmers, who will now be able to sell a larger volume of products in the European Union countries.

"This is a great victory for Ukrainian farmers. The joint initiative of Ukraine and Moldova allows our country to receive recognition of seed quality standards for oilseeds, sugar beets and soybeans, as well as for fodder grasses," said Syuzana Hryhorenko, Executive Director of the Seed Association of Ukraine. She added that work is currently underway to expand this initiative to fodder grass seeds in Ukraine.

This decision opened a new opportunity for cooperation between Ukraine, Moldova, and the EU in the field of agriculture, which will contribute not only to the development of the agricultural sector, but also to the strengthening of economic ties at the international level.