A new organic law and Organic Week in Ukraine

State support for organic production was almost non-existent in Ukraine, as there were no laws regarding organic production. But just two days prior to the start of the Organic Week the relevant draft law, including the proposals of the President, on the production and circulation of organic agricultural products and raw materials was supported by 302 out of the 450 members of the Parliament, Organic UA reports. The President of the Parliament sent the law to Viktor Janukowitsch, the President of the Republic, who signed it on 3 October 2013.

"We expect the new law to come into force in 2014," says a delighted Eugene Milovanov, the President of Organic UA, the organic federation of Ukraine. When the new legislation comes in force in Ukraine, it is expected to be in full compliance with EU organic regulations. (Picture: TV interviews with Eugene Milovanov in Kiev)

The Organic Federation of Ukraine initiated the Organic Week, which is the biggest national celebration of organic food, production and consumption and aims to increase public awareness and promote organics across the whole country. Over 100 different events, including master classes in cookery and presentations at organic farms and shops, took place from 5 to 12 September in Kiev, Cherkasy, Sebastopol, Donetsk and many other places in Ukraine. Among other activities, a bus tour was organised to organic farms, processors and shops in the Kiev region. (Picture: visitors at an organic exhibition in Kiev)

Organic Space (see picture above) – an exposition at the international food exhibition – attracted consumers and professionals on three days during the week. At the international symposium in Kiev, experts from Ukraine, Moldova and Russia met to discuss the current situation and the prospects for organic in the future. Even younger people were quite active at their Organic Student Conference in the Vinnitsa region. (Picture: Children were also involved in the Organic Week)

With the support of Ukraine’s Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food, the Ministry of Ecology and other partners, on 7 September the Organic Federation of Ukraine organized the most important event in the Organic Week, namely the 5th All Ukrainian Organic Market Fair. It was held in Kiev and has become a new powerful incentive for faster development of the organic market in the country. During this one day event, about 20,000 visitors were able to buy organics from Ukraine and abroad, to taste roasted organic pork and freshly cooked goulash made from organic ingredients, and to learn how to do carving on organic pumpkins and watermelons, plus much more besides. Similar organic events were organized from 2009-2012 and they will continue in 2014. (Picture: Preparing meat at the Organic Week)

Organic production in Ukraine has been developing since 1997, first of all thanks to the demand from EU traders and processors for organic grain, oilseeds, pulses and wild crops. In 2007, the situation started to change slightly when the domestic organic market appeared, already offering consumers organic bread, milk, sausages, fruits, vegetables, juices, drinks, syrups, jams, honey, cereals and more at this early stage. Since then, the annual growth of the domestic organic market is at the 60 - 100% level. It reached €7.9 m in 2011, which reflects the growing interest of Ukrainian consumers in organics.
(Picture to the right: Selling organic vegetables in traditional Ukrainian dresses)

The main distribution channels for organic products in Ukraine are organic sections in supermarkets and small shops (including internet shops) that offer natural and organic products. So far, there are no specialised organic shops in Ukraine. But at the same time, the number of the shops that do their best to present the natural and organic shop format is growing. The share of certified organic products in such shops varies from 10% to a maximum of 50%. Altogether, about 150 such shops can be found in Ukraine, mostly in big cities with a population of over 1m citizens. In Kiev alone, more 50 such shops are present.

At least several organic products can be found already in almost a quarter of Ukrainian big supermarkets in Kiev and other big cities. Organic corners exist only in about 100 supermarkets - most of them in Kiev, Kharkiv, Odessa, Lviv and Donetsk. The number of cafes and restaurants that partially use organic products like juices, coffee, sugar, jams, meat, and vegetables is growing too. Most of those locations can be found in Lviv and Kiev. 
 

By the beginning of this year, 278,800 hectares were dedicated to organic farming in Ukraine, which is about 0.7% of the total arable land in the country (2011: 270,320 hectares. Source: Organic Federation of Ukraine). The range of organic dairy products is growing: There is estimation that by 2014 at least five organic milk processors to operate in Ukraine to satisfy the growing demand for organic dairy products like milk, butter, sour-cream, yoghurts, ice-cream, and cheese. The first Ukrainian vodka (Khortytsa) was certified as organic and holds a long time promotion campaign. 
(Picture: Organic vegetables from Ukraine)