More strict European rules for labeling products will be introduced in Ukraine

Today the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine may consider in the first reading a bill on bringing requirements to the labeling of food products in line with EU standards, and subsequently the document can be adopted as a whole. This was reported by the deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on agrarian issues Oleksandr Bakumenko, according to agronews.ua.

According to him the bill has been prepared and submitted to the parliament in the framework of Ukraine's obligations under the association agreement with the EU to synchronize its own legislation with European laws. He stressed that the document was supported by the European Union and the government.

"We discussed this issue with business representatives for a year and a half. There must be a balance between the interests of business, between the protection of consumer rights and the system of state control that provides this protection. The law should be considered in the parliament, if it will be put to the vote it can be passed in the first reading," Oleksandr Bakumenko said.

According to the People's Deputy the bill unifies the rules for providing consumers with information about food products. At the same time manufacturers are prohibited from using information on the packaging that can mislead the consumer - the data must be accurate and understandable to the ordinary citizen.

Also the draft contains requirements for legibility of information on the label and a minimum font size. Producers will also be required to provide information on allergens in products, and also to report whether the product has been frozen or defrosted. Also new product expiration dates are introduced for the products that quickly expire.

According to Bakumenko all players in the food market will benefit from the adoption of the law. "Market operators will unify the rules, providing consumers with information, which will ensure legal certainty and reduce the administrative pressure of the market operators. Consumers will be able to make informed choices, especially for health reasons, economic, environmental, social and ethical considerations. They will have protection from fraudulent and misleading practices," the politician noted.