Law No. 2496-VIII “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Turnover and Labelling of Organic Products”.

This Law defines the basic principles and requirements for the organic production, trade, transportation and labeling of organic products, the principles of legal regulation of organic production, the circulation of organic products and the functioning of the organic products market, the legal basis for the activities of central executive authorities, organic market players and public policy directions in the specified areas. Organic production operators shall include producers of organic agricultural commodities, and also organic seeds and planting materials. This Law does not apply to the production and trade of products intended for one’s own consumption, perfumery and cosmetic products and medicines, hunting and fishing products obtained from the natural environment. Operators have the right, in the presence of a certificate, to perform the following activities: (a) to produce and sell organic products under its commercial name and/or trademark (a logo for goods and services); and (b) to entrust the provision of certain services (works), including contracting (commissioning), required for organic production and/or circulation of organic products, to a third party, subject to verification of the capacities of such person by the certification body and obtaining consent from it. Operators are responsible for complying with the requirements of legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products within the scope of the activities they carry out. Operators shall have the following duties: (a) to comply with the requirements of legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products; (b) withdraw and/or remove products produced by them that do not comply with the requirements of the legislation on organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products if it is marked with the state logo for organic products or contains the designations and inscriptions "organic", "biodynamic", "biological", "ecological", "organic", and similar or derivative words from these words with prefixes "bio-", "eco-", etc. in any languages; (b) to receive annually certification of organic production and/or circulation of organic products for confirmation of compliance with the requirements of legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and marking of organic products; (c) to interact with the certification bodies with whom they have concluded certification contract and to ensure the unhindered access of inspectors for organic production and/or circulation of organic products to their premises, facilities and to authorize them to perform sampling, as well as to provide, upon request of the certification bodies, the documents necessary for the certification of organic production, including access to financial documents; (d) to ensure unimpeded access of officials exercising state control (supervision) in the field of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products in accordance with the law, for the implementation of state control measures, including sampling; (e) to declare volumes of organic products put into circulation; and (f) to coordinate the marking of organic products with the certification body. The guidelines of the state policy in the field of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products shall be as follows: (a) introduction of innovations, energy and resource-saving technologies; (b) development of competition and increase of competitiveness of Ukrainian producers in the domestic and foreign markets; (c) increase in exports of organic agricultural products; (d) development of the internal market of organic products; (e) ensuring genetic safety, biodiversity and the rational use of natural resources and their reproduction; (f) supervision over observance of legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and marking of organic products; (g) humane treatment of livestock by providing conditions for the life of animals that meet their biological, specific and individual characteristics; (h) provision of environmental safety in the process of organic production; (i) creation of a unified system of certification of organic production and/or circulation and state control of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products; (j) promotion of organic products; (k) scientific support of organic production; (l) establishment of liability for violation of legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labeling of organic products. Agricultural commodities shall be intended products (goods) of plant or animal origin that fall under the definition of groups 1-24 of Ukrainian classification of foreign trade goods. This Law consists of XII Sections divided into 42 Articles. Section I lays down general provisions. Section II establishes rights and duties of the operators of organic production market. Section III lays down general principles of state regulation in the field of organic production, circulation and marking of organic production. Section IV defines competence of authorized state institutions in the sphere of organic production. Section V deals with issues of organic production. In the process of organic production it is prohibited to use synthetic substances, including agrochemicals, pesticides, antibiotics for preventive purposes, hormonal preparations, growth stimulators and animal feed (including poultry and insects. Section VI regards the process of certification and certification bodies. Section VII regards circulation, labelling and trade of organic production. Section VIII deals with state control (supervision) in the field of organic production. Section IX establishes liability for the infringement of legislation in the field of organic production. Section X regards international cooperation. Section XI lays down transitional provisions. Section XII lays down final provisions.