EU Grants Equivalence Status to Ukrainian Oilseed Seed Certification System

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The Council of the European Union has officially recognised the equivalence of Ukraine’s seed certification system for beet, sunflower, rapeseed, and soybean seeds, aligning it with EU legislation. This significant move allows Ukrainian-certified seeds of these crops to be exported to the European Union, expanding trade and cooperation in the agricultural sector.

The decision amends Directive 2003/17/EC, which governs equivalence status for field inspections and seed production standards among third countries. With this amendment, Ukraine now joins a select group of nations whose certification systems meet the rigorous quality, control, and traceability standards of the EU.

The recognition confirms that Ukraine’s national procedures offer guarantees equivalent to those required by the EU in terms of seed characteristics, examination, identification, and quality control. As a result, Ukrainian seed producers will gain direct access to the EU market, while European agricultural companies can expand their sourcing and production operations geographically.

“This historic decision is the result of many years of work by the Ukrainian authorities in cooperation with associations and experts in the agricultural sector. It has been adopted and supported by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU,” stated Vitaliy Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

The decision will take effect 20 days after its official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This is not the first time Ukraine's seed certification system has received EU recognition. In October 2020, the European Union granted equivalence to Ukrainian certification for cereal crops such as wheat, triticale, oats, barley, rice, rye, corn, and sorghum (Decision No. 2020/1544). The latest development builds upon that foundation, marking a new chapter in Ukraine’s integration into the European agricultural market.

The expanded equivalence underscores the growing confidence in Ukraine’s agricultural regulatory framework and opens new pathways for international collaboration in seed production and trade.