Law No.771/97-VR of 1997 on quality and safety of food products and food raw materials.

This Law regulates the relations between executive authorities, food market operators and food consumers and defines the procedure for ensuring safety and individual quality indicators of food produced, imported, transported (shipped ) to the customs territory of Ukraine and/or exported therefrom. It shall not be applicable to food intended (produced) for personal consumption and to auxiliary processing materials and food contact materials, unless otherwise expressly provided in this Law. State regulation in the sphere of food quality control and food safety shall be performed with a view of ensuring protection of life, health and interests of consumers. The state regulates the safety and individual indicators of food quality by: (a) establishment of sanitary measures; (b) setting requirements for individual food quality indicators; (c) state registration of produce subject to sanitary inspection and application of sanitary requirements; (d) issuance, suspension, revocation and renewal of the operating permit (license); (e) informing and raising awareness of market operators and consumers about the safety and individual indicators of food quality; (f) setting health requirements for staff of food processing enterprises; (g) participation in the work of relevant international organizations; (h) exercising state control; and (i) bringing market operators, their officials to account in case of breach of the legislation on safety and certain indicators of food quality. Central executive body in the sphere of implementation of state policy for protection of public health shall perform the following functions: (a) establishes an adequate level of human health protection; (b) establishes the procedure for notification of food poisoning; and (c) carries out state registration and maintains state registers of the new foodstuffs, food additives, flavors, enzymes, table mineral waters in accordance with established criteria. It shall ensure the proper level of protection of human health from risks originating from consumption of foodstuffs. All sanitary measures related to food quality control and food safety shall be based upon scientific substantiation, international standards, instructions and recommendations. The competent authority if required by the country of destination must approve food production facilities intended for export from Ukraine. State registration shall be applicable to: (a) new foodstuffs; (b) food additives; (c) flavours, with the exception of a separate group of flavors, designated by the central executive body in the sphere of implementation of state policy for protection of public health; (d) enzymes; (e) processing auxiliary materials and materials in contact with foodstuffs that are put into circulation and/or for the first time on the territory of Ukraine; and (f) potable water, which is planned to be classified as "natural mineral water". Only those food additives that are included in the State Register of Food Additives authorized for use in foodstuffs may be used in the manufacturing of foodstuffs and contained in circulating foodstuffs. Foodstuffs circulating in Ukraine must comply with the requirements of the legislation on safety and individual indicators of food quality. Food certification is optional. This does not apply to the procedure for issuing the international certificate provided for in this Law. It is prohibited to slaughter animals that are not accompanied by a veterinary document certifying the health of the animals. New foodstuffs or ingredients must comply with the following requirements: (a) not pose a threat to human health; (b) must not mislead the consumer; and (c) if the new foodstuff is designed to replace the normal food, the amount of nutrients and other substances that the consumer will receive under normal conditions of consumption will not differ more than the natural variations from those obtained from the normal foodstuff. It consists of XI Chapters divided into 66 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II establishes plenary powers of central executive bodies in the sphere of safety and quality indicators of foodstuffs, and laboratory research. Chapter III establishes the principles and the procedure for state control. Chapter IV establishes sanitary measures and some quality indicators of foodstuffs. Chapter V regards state registration of produce subject to sanitary inspection. Chapter VI regards manufacturing and circulation of foodstuffs. Chapter VII establishes general hygienic requirements for management of foodstuffs. Chapter VIII regards international trade. Chapter IX regards international cooperation. Chapter X regards administrative services. Chapter XI establishes liability.