Throughout March, specialists from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, together with export-oriented meat processors, underwent preparations for the first verification mission of European Commission inspectors. The mission will assess Ukraine’s national public health control system in response to the country’s listing request for the export of heat-treated pork products. During this period, eight producers underwent preliminary audits covering compliance with EU requirements along the entire chain — from live pig sourcing to the final product.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders contributed to the preparation process by engaging an international expert in veterinary inspection to consult candidate enterprises. During the “trial” audits conducted by regional authorities of the State Service and technical experts, operators assessed their understanding of key EU legislative requirements. Following this stage, specialists from the central office of the competent authority will determine the list of facilities that will participate in the verification mission, together with authorized representatives of territorial bodies.
“Although not all applicants will be included in the first group of enterprises for audits, operators note that this experience is highly valuable, as it helps them develop and implement action plans to align their production processes with EU export requirements,” the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders stated.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders is a non-profit, voluntary organization founded by domestic pork producers. Its main objectives include representing and protecting the rights and interests of its members, promoting the development and implementation of advanced pork production technologies, expanding market opportunities, and safeguarding the domestic market.