Association Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part.

The objective of Association Agreement shall be to establish association between the Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part. The aims of this association are: (a) to promote gradual rapprochement between the Parties based on common values and close and privileged links, and increasing Ukraine's association with EU policies and participation in programs and agencies; (b) to provide an appropriate framework for enhanced political dialogue in all areas of mutual interest; (c) to promote, preserve and strengthen peace and stability in the regional and international dimensions in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, and of the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the objectives of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe of 1990; (d) to establish conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Ukraine's gradual integration in the EU Internal Market, including by setting up a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area as stipulated in Title IV (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement, and to support Ukrainian efforts to complete the transition into a functioning market economy by means of, inter alia, the progressive approximation of its legislation to that of the Union; and (e) to establish conditions for increasingly close cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. Regarding mandatory marking or labelling, the Parties agree that: (a) they will endeavor to minimize their requirements for marking or labelling, except as required for the adoption of the EU acquis in this area and for marking and labelling for the protection of health, safety, or the environment, or for other reasonable public policy purposes; (b) a Party may determine the form of labelling or marking, but shall not require the approval, registration or certification of labels; and (c) the Parties retain the right to require the information on a label or marks to be in a specific language. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures shall be aimed at safeguarding human, animal and plant life or health, by: (a) ensuring full transparency as regards sanitary and phytosanitary measures applicable to trade; (b) approximating Ukraine's laws to those of the EU; (c) recognizing the animal and plant health status of the Parties and applying the principle of regionalization; (d) establishing a mechanism for the recognition of equivalence of sanitary or phytosanitary measures maintained by a Party; (e) further implementing the principles of the SPS Agreement; (f) establishing mechanisms and procedures for trade facilitation; and (g) improving communication and cooperation between the Parties on sanitary and phytosanitary measures. As regards animal diseases and infections in animals (including zoonosis), the following shall apply: (a) The importing Party shall recognize for trade purposes, the animal health status of the exporting Party or its regions as determined by the exporting Party in accordance with Annex VII Part A to this Agreement, with respect to animal diseases specified in Annex VI-A to this Agreement; EN 29.5.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 161/29 ( 1 ) As regards Genetically Modified Organisms (hereinafter referred to as GMOs ), the comprehensive strategy shall include also timetables for approximation of the Ukrainian GMO legislation to the EU one referred to in Annex XXIX to Chapter 6 of Title V (Economic and Sector Co-operation); (b) Where a Party considers that it has, for its territory or a region, a special status with respect to a specific animal disease, other than those listed in Annex VI-A to this Agreement, it may request recognition of this status in accordance with the criteria laid down in Annex VII Part C to this Agreement. The importing Party may request guarantees in respect of imports of live animals and animal products, which are appropriate to the agreed status of the Parties; (c) The status of the territories or regions, or the status in a sector or sub-sector of the Parties related to the prevalence or incidence of an animal disease other than listed in Annex VI-A to this Agreement, or infections in animals, and/or the associated risk, as appropriate, as defined by OIE, is recognized by the Parties as the basis for trade between them. The importing Party may request guarantees in respect of imports of live animals and animal products which are appropriate to the defined status in accordance with the recommendations of OIE, as appropriate; and (d) Without prejudice to Articles 67, 69 and 73 of this Agreement, and unless the importing Party raises an explicit objection and requests supporting or additional information or consultations and/or verification, each Party shall take, without undue delay, the necessary legislative and administrative measures to allow trade on the basis of points (a), (b) and (c) of this paragraph. The Parties recognize for trade purposes their pest status in respect of pests specified in Annex VI-B to this Agreement; and (b) Without prejudice to Articles 67, 69 and 73 of this Agreement, and unless the importing Party raises an explicit objection and requests supporting or additional information or consultations and/or verification, each Party shall take, without undue delay, the necessary legislative and administrative measures to allow trade on the basis of point (a) of this paragraph. The Parties will agree on common models of certificates where applicable. Should the importing Party take, within its territory, measures to control any cause likely to constitute a serious hazard or risk to human, animal or plant health, the exporting Party, without prejudice to paragraph 2 of this Article, shall take equivalent measures to prevent the introduction of the hazard or risk into the territory of the importing Party. On the basis of serious public, animal or plant health grounds, the importing Party may take provisional measures necessary for the protection of public, animal or plant health. For consignments in transport between the Parties, the importing Party shall consider the most suitable and proportionate solution in order to avoid unnecessary disruption to trade. The Parties pledge to achieve and adequate and effective level of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Geographical indications of a Party to be protected by the other Party shall only be subject to this Agreement if covered by the scope of the legislation referred to in Article 202 of this Agreement. The Parties shall determine safety and efficacy requirements before authorizing the placing on the market of plant protection products. Subject to their domestic legislation, the Parties shall respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and promote their wider application with the involvement and approval of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices. In order to promote the sustainable management of forest resources, Parties commit to work together to improve forest law enforcement and governance and promote trade in legal and sustainable forest products. the Parties undertake to work together by: (a) taking effective measures to monitor and control fish and other aquatic resources; (b) ensuring full compliance with applicable conservation and control measures, adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations as well as cooperating with and within Regional Fisheries Management Organizations as widely as possible; and (c) introducing inter alia trade measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Cooperation shall aim at preserving, protecting, improving, and rehabilitating the quality of the