Veterinary sector prepares for new EU rules: key takeaways from Animal Health Day

19/ 06/ 2026

On 11 June, the Animal Health Committee of the European Business Association held Animal Health Day, an industry event for veterinary professionals. Representatives of businesses, relevant government authorities, industry associations, and international partners gathered to discuss the latest developments in animal health and welfare in the context of Ukraine’s European integration, the harmonisation of Ukrainian veterinary legislation with European Union standards, and the market’s adaptation to new regulatory requirements. During the first panel discussion, participants focused on European integration issues in the field of animal health and welfare, legislative developments, regulatory prospects, and dialogue with the EU. Oksana Novokhatnia, Deputy Head of the Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine Department at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, spoke about the ongoing work to implement European legislation into Ukraine’s national legal framework. According to her, the Law of Ukraine “On Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare” is one of the key European integration laws, while work is currently underway to develop the necessary secondary legislation, including regulations on the state registration of veterinary medicinal products, requirements for registration dossiers, procedures for setting registration fees, and related matters. We are actively working to establish all the necessary mechanisms for the full implementation of the new legislation and to fulfil Ukraine’s European integration commitments in the field of veterinary medicine, said Oksana Novokhatnia. The Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Serhii Tkachuk, highlighted the scale of the work ahead in adapting legislation. Over the next three years, approximately 70 regulatory acts need to be adopted in the field of animal health and welfare. At the same time, we already see the need for certain clarifications and amendments to the legislation. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Service is critically important, as the volume of work is unprecedented, he emphasised. Serhii Tkachuk also stressed the importance of the One Health concept and the need for joint efforts by government and business in addressing issues related to registration, licensing, and combating counterfeit products. Michael Wolf, representing the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, positively assessed Ukraine’s progress in fulfilling the requirements of Chapter 12 of the EU accession negotiations. We see good progress being made by Ukraine, particularly in the area of animal welfare. At the same time, this is one of the most technical chapters of the accession process, requiring the implementation of a substantial body of legislation. The challenge is compounded by the conditions of war and limited institutional resources; nevertheless, the European Union will continue to cooperate with and support Ukraine on this path, he noted. Lidiia Sanzharovska, Legal Adviser to the Animal Health Committee and representative of Legal Alliance, highlighted the need for official recognition of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates issued in EU Member States and other countries with stringent regulatory systems. Introducing such an approach would help avoid excessive regulatory burdens on manufacturers and contribute to ensuring a stable supply of veterinary medicinal products to the Ukrainian market, she stressed. The second panel discussion focused on the practical aspects of implementing the new legislation and the market’s adaptation to the new requirements. Oleksandra Bondarska, representative of the Association of Pig Breeders of Ukraine, noted that the sector is currently undergoing a significant transformation. At the level of enterprises and farms, many questions remain regarding the practical application of the new rules. Some documents and guidelines require revision, and there are differing interpretations of certain provisions of the law. At the same time, this transformation creates the conditions for improving product safety and supporting the further development of the market, she said. Ivan Yakymchuk, Chief Veterinarian of the Zoolux veterinary clinic network, drew attention to the challenges faced by practising veterinarians. There is still a degree of uncertainty due to the absence of some secondary legislation. Questions remain regarding prescription procedures, the circulation of veterinary medicinal products, and updates to the lists of authorised products, including pain management medicines available for use by veterinarians. It was also emphasised that if Ukraine is pursuing legislative harmonisation with EU rules governing veterinary medicinal products, approaches to the use of narcotic and psychotropic medicines in veterinary practice should also be reviewed, he noted. Yurii Kosenko, Deputy Director for International Cooperation at the State Scientific Research Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise, stressed the importance of drawing on European experience when developing Ukrainian regulations. If we aim to meet European standards, we must take EU practices into account as fully as possible when shaping our national regulatory framework. Mr Kosenko also raised issues related to the regulation of antimicrobial products and the development of the GMP certification system. Co-Chair of the Animal Health Committee and representative of Boehringer Ingelheim, Andrii Didukh, emphasised that the successful implementation of the new legislation requires cooperation among all market stakeholders. Ukrainian and international manufacturers, government authorities, and the professional community face common tasks and challenges today. Issues such as GMP certification, recognition of equivalence, and market access have a direct impact on the prevention of infectious diseases in livestock production, the export potential of the sector, and consumer health. At the same time, excessive delays in certain procedures may affect the uninterrupted supply of veterinary medicinal products to the market, he stated. Participants highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue between government, business, and international partners to ensure the effective implementation of European standards in animal health and welfare and to support the sustainable development of Ukraine’s veterinary sector. The European Business Association thanks all speakers and participants for the insightful professional discussion and their joint efforts towards the development of a modern animal health system in Ukraine.

During the first panel discussion, participants focused on European integration issues in the field of animal health and welfare, legislative developments, regulatory prospects, and dialogue with the EU.

Oksana Novokhatnia, Deputy Head of the Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine Department at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, spoke about the ongoing work to implement European legislation into Ukraine’s national legal framework. According to her, the Law of Ukraine “On Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare” is one of the key European integration laws, while work is currently underway to develop the necessary secondary legislation, including regulations on the state registration of veterinary medicinal products, requirements for registration dossiers, procedures for setting registration fees, and related matters.

“We are actively working to establish all the necessary mechanisms for the full implementation of the new legislation and to fulfil Ukraine’s European integration commitments in the field of veterinary medicine,” said Oksana Novokhatnia.

The Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Serhii Tkachuk, highlighted the scale of the work ahead in adapting legislation.

“Over the next three years, approximately 70 regulatory acts need to be adopted in the field of animal health and welfare. At the same time, we already see the need for certain clarifications and amendments to the legislation. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Service is critically important, as the volume of work is unprecedented,” he emphasised.

Serhii Tkachuk also stressed the importance of the One Health concept and the need for joint efforts by government and business in addressing issues related to registration, licensing, and combating counterfeit products.

Michael Wolf, representing the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, positively assessed Ukraine’s progress in fulfilling the requirements of Chapter 12 of the EU accession negotiations.

“We see good progress being made by Ukraine, particularly in the area of animal welfare. At the same time, this is one of the most technical chapters of the accession process, requiring the implementation of a substantial body of legislation. The challenge is compounded by the conditions of war and limited institutional resources; nevertheless, the European Union will continue to cooperate with and support Ukraine on this path,” he noted.

Lidiia Sanzharovska, Legal Adviser to the Animal Health Committee and representative of Legal Alliance, highlighted the need for official recognition of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certificates issued in EU Member States and other countries with stringent regulatory systems.

“Introducing such an approach would help avoid excessive regulatory burdens on manufacturers and contribute to ensuring a stable supply of veterinary medicinal products to the Ukrainian market,” she stressed.

The second panel discussion focused on the practical aspects of implementing the new legislation and the market’s adaptation to the new requirements.

Oleksandra Bondarska, representative of the Association of Pig Breeders of Ukraine, noted that the sector is currently undergoing a significant transformation.

“At the level of enterprises and farms, many questions remain regarding the practical application of the new rules. Some documents and guidelines require revision, and there are differing interpretations of certain provisions of the law. At the same time, this transformation creates the conditions for improving product safety and supporting the further development of the market,” she said.

Ivan Yakymchuk, Chief Veterinarian of the Zoolux veterinary clinic network, drew attention to the challenges faced by practising veterinarians.

“There is still a degree of uncertainty due to the absence of some secondary legislation. Questions remain regarding prescription procedures, the circulation of veterinary medicinal products, and updates to the lists of authorised products, including pain management medicines available for use by veterinarians. It was also emphasised that if Ukraine is pursuing legislative harmonisation with EU rules governing veterinary medicinal products, approaches to the use of narcotic and psychotropic medicines in veterinary practice should also be reviewed,” he noted.

Yurii Kosenko, Deputy Director for International Cooperation at the State Scientific Research Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise, stressed the importance of drawing on European experience when developing Ukrainian regulations.

“If we aim to meet European standards, we must take EU practices into account as fully as possible when shaping our national regulatory framework.”

Mr Kosenko also raised issues related to the regulation of antimicrobial products and the development of the GMP certification system.

Co-Chair of the Animal Health Committee and representative of Boehringer Ingelheim, Andrii Didukh, emphasised that the successful implementation of the new legislation requires cooperation among all market stakeholders.

“Ukrainian and international manufacturers, government authorities, and the professional community face common tasks and challenges today. Issues such as GMP certification, recognition of equivalence, and market access have a direct impact on the prevention of infectious diseases in livestock production, the export potential of the sector, and consumer health. At the same time, excessive delays in certain procedures may affect the uninterrupted supply of veterinary medicinal products to the market,” he stated.

Participants highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue between government, business, and international partners to ensure the effective implementation of European standards in animal health and welfare and to support the sustainable development of Ukraine’s veterinary sector.

The European Business Association thanks all speakers and participants for the insightful professional discussion and their joint efforts towards the development of a modern animal health system in Ukraine.