On 10 December 2024, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine issued Order No. 4282, which approved new criteria for determining enterprises of importance to the national economy in the field of agriculture. This decision is a strategically important step in strengthening Ukraine's food security and supporting the agricultural sector in wartime. The adoption of the new criteria allows for the identification of key enterprises of strategic importance for Ukrainian agriculture. Such enterprises will be able to book employees, preserving their human resources, and count on additional state support and tax preferences. This is especially important in the context of war, when economic resilience and food security are critical factors.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE STATUS

In order to qualify as an important enterprise, an entity must meet at least two of the four criteria set out below. Each of these criteria is aimed at identifying enterprises that have a significant production, economic and social impact on the agricultural sector.

1. Economic indicators and land cultivation.

- Land cultivation: the company must cultivate at least 500 hectares of agricultural land, as evidenced by the State Agrarian Register.

- Amount of income: the company must have an annual income of at least UAH 20 million, as evidenced by its financial statements.

- Payment of taxes: the amount of personal income tax (PIT) paid for the previous reporting quarter must be at least UAH 324 thousand. This is confirmed by a certificate from the State Tax Service (STS).

2. Type of activity and its priority.

- Principal activity: enterprises engaged in the production, processing or export of agricultural products according to the KVED codes specified in the Criteria.

- Scientific and technical activities: enterprises that conduct research to improve production efficiency and strengthen food security.

- Guarantee support: companies that provide partial guarantees for loan obligations of small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises.

- Financial services: activities of providing financial services, except insurance and pension provision.

3. State ownership and management of land.

100% state-owned: enterprises where 100% of shares are owned by the state and which sublease land plots through auctions.

Enterprises managed by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy or in which the Ministry has corporate rights.

Subletting land: companies that hold land auctions and sublet plots, confirming this by the number of contracts and the amount of space.

DOCUMENTS.

Companies seeking to obtain the status of strategically important must provide supporting documents.

The main list includes:

- Tax calculation of income and unified social tax with confirmation of acceptance by the supervisory authority.

- Certificate from the State Tax Service on the amount of personal income tax paid for the reporting period.

- Information from the State Agrarian Register on the area of cultivated land.

- Financial statements for the previous reporting year, including the balance sheet and income statement.

- A certificate on the company's activities signed by the head of the company, including information on land auctions held and the number of contracts concluded.

WHAT'S CHANGING?

The approval of the new criteria will help strengthen state support for the agricultural sector. Companies that receive the status of strategically important will enjoy a number of benefits:

- Employee booking: from now on, such enterprises will be able to book their employees to ensure a continuous production cycle. This is critical to preserving labour potential.

- Priority state support: strategically important enterprises can expect faster access to state support programmes and participation in special projects.

- Financial stability: due to the ability to attract guarantees for lending and government contracts.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR FARMERS?

1. Preservation of human resources: the ability to book employees will ensure the stability of production processes and help avoid a shortage of qualified personnel during critical periods.

2. Financial support: enterprises will have access to state support instruments and priority financing.

3. Increased competitiveness: the status of an important enterprise allows for more favourable lending and warranty conditions.

New criteria for identifying important agricultural enterprises are a powerful tool to support Ukraine's agricultural sector during the war. They help identify key market players that can access additional protection and support mechanisms. Employee reservations, state support and financial guarantees are opportunities that will help farmers maintain their production capacity and ensure a stable food supply.

For agricultural enterprises, this is a chance to strengthen their market position, retain staff and get more financial instruments for development. However, to do this, it is worth preparing documents now and taking advantage of the opportunity to obtain the status of an important enterprise. In wartime, this is not only a privilege, but also a real necessity for the stability of the industry and food security of Ukraine.