On 11 August, a training session for representatives of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection was delivered by Oleksandr Rievnivtsev and Vitalii Bashynskyi. The main focus was on implementing the new requirements of veterinary legislation and the role of state control in combating antimicrobial resistance.
On 12 August, pork producers and veterinary specialists from pig farms joined the training. The speakers were Vitalii Bashynskyi, Olha Bekh and Vitalii Piotrovych. Participants discussed practical issues related to the responsible use of antibiotics, prevention of bacterial diseases and compliance with the new veterinary requirements.
On 13 August, the series concluded with a training session for dairy producers featuring Vitalii Bashynskyi and Vitalii Lototskyi. The responsible use of antimicrobials was addressed with consideration of the specific features of dairy production.
This format made it possible to tailor the training to the needs of each audience and examine the same challenge from different perspectives — from state control to the day-to-day work of veterinary professionals at livestock enterprises.
The next and final stage of the training programme will be held on 20–21 August in Vinnytsia for representatives of territorial communities. Participants will discuss the responsible use of antibiotics in households, common mistakes in animal treatment and the role of communities in combating AMR. A separate practical session will focus on communication with the public — how to explain the risks of improper antibiotic use in simple terms and respond to common myths.
The programme therefore covers different levels — from state control and commercial producers to territorial communities — helping to build a shared understanding of the principles of responsible antimicrobial use.
The training was organised under the EpiC project, funded by the U.S. Department of State, with the participation of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders.
The EpiC project in Ukraine aims to strengthen the country’s public health, animal health and laboratory capacities by providing targeted technical assistance, building institutional capacity and improving coordination among national and regional public and animal health authorities in accordance with international standards and cross-sectoral principles.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders is a non-profit voluntary organisation established by domestic pork producers. Its main objectives are to represent and protect the rights and interests of its member farms, support the development and implementation of new technologies for efficient pork production, expand sales markets and protect the domestic market.