The discussion primarily concerns heat-treated canned products — a category currently viewed as the first step in a broader dialogue with the EU on access for Ukrainian pork to the European market.
“The audit itself lasted two weeks, and every day the experts assessed the state control system from a practical perspective. They examined the entire chain: production, movement, identification, slaughter and further processing of products in accordance with EU regulations. Based on the results, we received a preliminary conclusion and submitted our comments and proposals on how the identified issues would be addressed,” Ihor Lotskin said.
One of the key tasks is to prepare a standard operating procedure that will set out the sequence for a facility to gain access to export to the EU and define the responsibilities of operators at each stage of the production chain. The industry is expected to be involved in developing this document in order to avoid unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses.
The auditors also paid particular attention to identification and traceability. For the EU, an appropriate level of control is important both in the commercial sector and at stages related to the keeping, movement and origin of animals.
At the same time, Ihor Lotskin stressed that requirements remain high even for heat-treated products. This export format could become a “first opening” for Ukrainian pork on the EU market, but further expansion into other product categories will require continued work to ensure that the control system complies with EU requirements.
The International Congress “Profitable Pig Production” is one of the largest industry events not only in Ukraine but also beyond its borders. It is a platform for open discussion of all issues affecting Ukraine’s pig sector. Participants include pig producers, leading Ukrainian and international specialists, government representatives and experts from international organisations. The event will take place on 23 September and is organised by the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, the Ukrainian Agri Council and agricultural consulting company DYKUN.