Ministry of Economy: Anti-counterfeit bill will increase liability for "food fraud"

Ministry of Economy: Anti-counterfeit bill will increase liability for "food fraud"

The draft law No. 6248 initiated by the Ministry of Economy on combating falsification of food products has successfully passed the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management.

Currently, the bill is awaiting consideration by the relevant Parliamentary Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy.

The Draft Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Food Products and Other Objects of Sanitary Measures" proposes amendments to up to 4 laws, which in general provide for the improvement of state regulation of the issues of production and putting into circulation of food products, state control and provision of information to consumers about food products.

“The Ministry of Economy offers a comprehensive solution to combat counterfeiting in the food market - bill No. 6248, which has already been supported by the environmental committee. Consumers need to understand exactly which product they are choosing, so the labeling of, for example, vegan, vegetarian or imitation foods should be clearly regulated.

The key is to ensure proper traceability of food products, primarily baby food, on the principle of “one step back” and “one step forward,” commented Iryna Novikova, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

The project, in particular, provides for the introduction of new definitions, for example, a falsified food product, food fraud, a vegan food product, a vegetarian food product, an imitation food product, an artisan food product, a food product presentation.”

Streamlining the sphere of labeling and marketing of food products will prevent unfair competition and encourage manufacturers to improve product quality.

In addition, for the first time, it is proposed to introduce a rating of compliance with general hygiene requirements for catering and food retail trade based on the best practices of European experience. This will allow the consumer to be informed in time about the results of state control (supervision) and make an informed choice on receiving services.

Other important changes include:

reduction of regulatory overload on certification bodies for organic products; registration and inclusion in the List of objects of sanitary measures, such as: food additives, flavors, food enzymes, natural mineral waters, nutritional value statement, health benefit statement, etc.; strengthening the requirement for direct access to the production of food products for personnel with medical contraindications; increased liability for violation of food law requirements, etc.

The draft law was developed taking into account the experience of the best world practices in the field of food safety. The implementation of the project will contribute to the harmonization of national legislation with the European one.

Draft Law of Ukraine No. 6248 was prepared by specialists of the Ministry of Economy with the participation of specialists from the Ministry of Health, the State Food Service and experts from the international technical assistance project “Improving legislation, control and awareness in the field of food safety, animal health and welfare in Ukraine”.

kmu.gov.ua