On 16 December, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading and as a whole the Law of Ukraine No. 12285-d "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Bringing Regulation in the Field of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare in Line with the Laws of the European Union". As a result of the amendments, the basic law is renamed: "On Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare".
🔍 WHAT THE ADOPTED LAW CHANGES
The law forms the legal framework for the implementation of European requirements in the following key areas:
1️⃣ ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE
For the first time, animal welfare is defined at the legislative level as:
✔️ physical and mental condition of an animal related to its living and dying conditions.
A direct prohibition is established on keeping animals in conditions that make it impossible for them to display their typical behaviour - in line with EU practices.
European standards are being introduced for:
✔️ keeping farm animals,
✔️ transport,
✔️ slaughter.
2️⃣ VETERINARY MEDICINE AND MEDICINES
The document strengthens state veterinary and sanitary control over:
✔️ production,
✔️обігом,
✔️реєстрацією,
✔️ the use of veterinary medicines.
The licensing of veterinary practice, production, wholesale and retail sale of veterinary drugs is being brought in line with the general licensing legislation.
3️⃣ ANTIBIOTICS: STRICT RESTRICTIONS
A separate and fundamentally important set of changes concerns the restriction of the use of antimicrobials in livestock.
🔴 The law prohibits it:
❌ use of antibiotics to stimulate growth;
❌ prophylactic use of antibiotics on an ongoing basis;
❌ use of medicinal products intended for human treatment in livestock.
📈 WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE SECTOR
✔️ increasing trust in Ukrainian agri-food products
✔️ facilitating access to the EU market
✔️ clear rules of the game for producers and veterinarians
✔️ increasing safety and quality standards
✔️ harmonisation with the European control system