By KYIV. Nov 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Verkhovna Rada adopted in general bill No. 4558, which regulates treatment of agrochemicals and pesticides, as well as bringing the country’s legislation in the sanitary and biosecurity field closer to EU legislation.
The draft law was supported by 299 MPs with the required 226 votes, MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak (the Holos faction) said on his Telegram channel on Thursday.
It is clarified that the norms proposed in the document make it possible to bring the legislation of Ukraine closer to the EU legislation, in particular to some provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 1107/2009, Regulation 2019/1009, Regulation 1907/2006, Directive 2009/128.
The document will also make it possible to bring it into line with the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on the application of sanitary and biosecurity measures as a basis for prohibiting the use of pesticides and agrochemicals.
It is expected that such an update of the legislation will increase the efficiency and transparency of the procedure for state testing of pesticides and agrochemicals and will expand the capabilities of state bodies in the fight against counterfeit pesticides and agrochemicals.
At the same time, the packaging and labeling requirements for pesticides and agrochemicals introduced by the bill are aimed at minimizing the likelihood of these products being mistaken for food, drink, medicine or feed. The requirements for the content of labels for accompanying pesticides and agrochemicals have also been brought into line with the requirements of the legislation of the European Union. At the same time, it is indicated that the updated legislation will strengthen the fight against counterfeiting, in particular by introducing the concept of packaging into the requirements for obtaining a license for the production of highly hazardous chemicals, which include the production of pesticides.
The document prohibits the import of pesticides and agrochemicals into the territory of Ukraine by individuals for their own needs, which is now one of the channels for smuggling and counterfeit goods to enter the territory of Ukraine.
