QR codes instead of paper documents, online registration instead of bureaucratic offices, and full traceability of products — Ukraine is preparing one of the most large-scale digital reforms in its agricultural sector. The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, together with relevant agencies, has already begun preparing the market for the launch of a unified digital system for state registration in the field of plant protection, which will form the basis of new sector rules and bring Ukrainian regulation closer to EU standards.
Main changes
- State registration becomes mandatory for all professional operators whose activities are related to the circulation of plants and plant products that require phytosanitary certificates or plant passports. The regulation covers distributors of plant protection products (PPPs), agricultural consultants, specialized laboratories, as well as companies involved in technical inspection of equipment and training. Small operators (for example, private households) supplying small quantities of plants or seeds directly to end consumers outside distance trade are fully exempt from mandatory registration. The same exemption applies to logistics companies that exclusively transport goods.
- Interaction between businesses and state authorities will fully move online through the automated Phytosanitary Inspection System (PHIS). Thanks to integration with the “Trembita” platform, the system will automatically verify identity via Diia.Signature in seconds and retrieve necessary EDRPOU and KVED codes from state registries. Authorities are given up to 5 working days to review applications.
- A unified participant identification system will be created. Each entity will be assigned a unique alphanumeric code reflecting its status and authority within the system.
Separate codes will be assigned to professional users of plant protection products, distributors, agricultural consultants, laboratories, and operators authorized to issue plant passports or label wooden packaging. For example, distributors of PPPs will receive the marker D, while agricultural consultants will receive the marker A.
Professional users of the most hazardous Class I pesticides will receive the U1 marker, but only after special training and passing an exam, without which legal purchase of chemicals will not be possible.
- Full traceability. The system introduces an end-to-end chain where any phytosanitary certificate, plant passport, or packaging label receives a unique QR code.
Field or customs inspectors can scan the code within seconds and verify where the product was produced, which laboratory tested it, and whether the farmer is authorized to use it.
- Updated registries and enforcement responsibility. Businesses will be required to promptly update their data in case of any changes. If falsification or critical violations are detected, the decision to terminate registration is made immediately, and the operator is removed from the system the next day.
“Transition to digital tools is a requirement of EU integration, as well as a simplification of conditions for Ukrainian business. Thanks to the interaction of the PHIS and ‘Trembita’ platforms, we will fully eliminate corruption risks and reduce application processing to a few days. The new system guarantees unprecedented product traceability, which will open a ‘green corridor’ to the EU for legitimate exporters and reliably protect our market from falsified products. At the same time, the state has minimized any regulatory pressure on small producers,” said Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi.
The implementation of the unified digital system is one of the key elements of the Law of Ukraine “On State Regulation in the Field of Plant Protection,” which will fully enter into force on January 17, 2028, and ensure the transition of the sector to modern European standards.
As part of the reform, a number of specialized state registries are being created, with phased implementation. The preparatory period is currently ongoing. During this time, the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is developing and testing digital infrastructure and conducting consultations and outreach with representatives of the agricultural sector, industry associations, laboratories, and training centers.
The explanatory materials were prepared with the support of the EU project “Further support in aligning Ukrainian legislation, control and awareness with EU legislation in the field of food safety, animal health and welfare, and phytosanitary measures” (EU4SaferFood).
