Animal Health Day: How the new legislation will impact the industry
On 12 June, the European Business Association held an industry event, Animal Health Day, which focused on legislative changes in the field of veterinary medicine and animal welfare, taking place as part of the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to European Union norms.
On 1 March 2026, the updated Law of Ukraine “On Veterinary Medicine” No. 1206-IX will come into force. This law aligns Ukraine’s veterinary medicine and animal welfare legislation with the European Union’s legal framework.
The event brought together representatives from the livestock industry, veterinary pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, distributors, and government bodies to discuss the rules that should guide the sector from 2026 onwards. Discussions centred on the practical aspects of regulation, registration, and production of veterinary medicinal products, as well as the challenges and opportunities for businesses.
Panel Discussion: Legislative Transformations – Harmonising Veterinary Regulation with EU Law
The first panel featured Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine; Serhii Tkachuk, Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection; Andriy Orobchuk, Chairman of the Animal Health Committee of the European Business Association; and Borys Danevych, CEE Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare, CMS Ukraine.
Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, noted that the current sectoral focus in the EU integration process is on food security (animal health, welfare, and control) and veterinary medicinal products. The Ministry maintains a clear position: no changes should harm producers or the population, nor should they jeopardise the supply of veterinary medicines. Instead, the reforms should ensure broad access to modern technologies and be aligned with EU practices. While there is still some work to be done to fully adapt the legislation, the Ministry has a positive outlook on implementing all innovations, with the possibility of applying transitional periods.
Mr Vysotskyi suggested that if it is not possible to reach full consensus on all contentious issues within the new legislation, there could be a solution whereby the majority of provisions are adapted, while some remain in the current version of Draft Law No. 1206, with further discussions continuing on them.
Serhii Tkachuk, Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, also emphasised that the changes must by no means lead to serious disruptions in business operations. Mr Tkachuk assured participants that the State Service will be ready to implement any legislative decisions, although he pointed out the problem of limited state budget funding. The implementation of the approved measures and reforms will require securing additional funds and cooperation with donors to ensure timely execution of the necessary changes.
Andriy Orobchuk, Chairman of the Animal Health Committee of the European Business Association, stressed that the introduction of new legislation must not disrupt continuity in market processes or access to veterinary medicines and vaccines, as this is crucial in terms of preventing dangerous diseases and ensuring food security. The business community supports EU integration and the associated reforms; however, in some cases, a transitional period is needed so that these changes do not harm the smooth functioning of the processes on which the sector depends. The Committee has submitted its proposals regarding licensing, imports, and the avoidance of double regulation, and hopes these will be taken into account.
Borys Danevych, CEE Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare, CMS Ukraine, commented that the dynamic legislative changes and active dialogue with European partners create enormous new opportunities. For Ukrainian manufacturers of veterinary medicinal products, this means access to the vast EU market and the chance to engage in contract manufacturing with European producers. For livestock product manufacturers, it opens access to innovations and modern solutions. Ultimately, this presents opportunities for economic growth.
However, Mr Danevych highlighted the critical importance of building and developing regulatory and supervisory institutions. This includes the implementation of genuinely European procedures, digital solutions, professional training, and securing sustainable funding for the regulatory system. The key question remains: who will implement the new requirements and how? This is still an open issue and a challenge for the system. A further major challenge is whether the new legislation will be truly harmonised or merely mechanically copied from European law. In his view, when drafting the legislation, Ukraine should already be considered a future EU Member State, with corresponding requirements for manufacturers, importers, and marketing authorisation holders of veterinary medicines, modelled on those in EU countries. He also pointed to Ukraine’s previous positive experience and evaluation in relation to the new legislation on human medicinal products, which is closely related in nature to the veterinary sector.
Panel Discussion: Registration and Production of Veterinary Medicinal Products – Current Industry Challenges
Participants of the second panel discussion included Vitaliy Kryuchkov, Head of the Animal Health and Welfare Department at the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine; Yuriy Kosenko, Deputy Director for International Relations and European Scientific Integration at the National Research Institute of Veterinary Medicines and Feed Additives; Oleg Osiian, First Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection; and Vitaliy Ukhovsky, Head of Department at the State Research Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise.
Vitaliy Kryuchkov, Head of the Animal Health and Welfare Department at the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, noted that Ukraine’s commitments to implementing European Union legislation are quite strict and do not allow for exemptions or relaxations. In this context, the Ministry has already developed a number of secondary legislative acts, which will enter into force on 1 March 2026 alongside the Law of Ukraine “On Veterinary Medicine”. This will enable businesses to clearly understand the requirements laid out in the law and ensure transparency in the relationship between producers, consumers, and the regulatory authority. At the same time, the Ministry remains open to constructive dialogue and is ready to consider proposals from industry associations to improve regulatory acts in order to ensure the most effective and balanced implementation of the new standards.
Oleg Osiian, First Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, emphasised that financial support for authorised institutions is a key component in the European integration process. Without proper funding, these institutions will not be able to effectively implement reforms, fulfil commitments to European partners, or ensure the sustainability of transformation processes. At the same time, in order for this process to be effective, collaboration between all stakeholders — government bodies, businesses, and international partners — is essential. Identifying common ground, developing a shared vision, and aligning actions will help avoid duplication of efforts and contribute to more systematic progress towards European standards. European integration is not only a political goal, but a shared responsibility that requires coordination, trust, and ongoing support at all levels.
Yuriy Kosenko, Deputy Director for International Relations and European Scientific Integration at the National Research Institute of Veterinary Medicines and Feed Additives, drew attention to the inappropriateness of certain changes proposed in draft law No. 12285-d. In particular, he referred to the division of responsibilities among various bodies, the complication of the registration procedure for veterinary medicinal products, differing approaches to registration and maintenance fees, the specifics of electronic dossier submissions, the definition of a reference product, the possibility of registering products containing prohibited substances, and other inconsistencies with EU legislation. Mr Kosenko stressed the importance of addressing these inconsistencies and continuing expert-level discussions on the disputed issues.
The European Business Association is grateful to the speakers and participants for the lively professional discussions and insights into how the industry will operate under the new rules in the near future.
