Food Safety in the Dairy Sector

Agriculture is an important pillar of the Ukrainian economy. Prior to the recent geopolitical changes, agricultural commodities constituted about 20% of national exports and dairy products ranked number four in the list of main agricultural export products, after cereal, vegetable oils and oilseeds. The main export destinations were Russia, and several Asian and African countries. Exports to Russia have been severely affected recently by the current geopolitical difficulties. The Ukrainian government and dairy sector alike are looking at diversifying their export destinations to respond to these market developments.

The overall objective of the project is to support the establishment and implementation of a modern risk-based food safety control system in the dairy value chain in Ukraine.

The Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service has the institutional arrangements to implement an integrated food safety control system based on the use of risk assessment.

The Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service has access to increased knowledge and modern tools to implement efficient risk-based food safety inspection system.

Private industry (in particular farmers, milk transporters and milk processors) is able to produce safe and good quality milk and milk products for consumers in Ukraine and abroad.

Expected results:  

Modernised regulations and by-laws to implement risk-based food safety inspections in the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service (VPS) are drafted and submitted to Governmental authority.

The VPS has a network of experts to use and interpret science based decision making tools.

The VPS has available modern tools to implement a risk-based food safety inspection at farm, milk collection points and milk processing level.

The VPS has the skills to implement a risk-based food safety control system at farm level, at milk collection points and at milk processing plants.

Processors understand and are able to train farmers on the importance of good farming and feeding practice to improve quality of raw milk.

Processors understand and are able to train farmers and milk transporters on the importance of establishing an appropriate cool chain from farm/milk collection points to the processiong plants.

A communication system between processors and farmers facilitates exchange of information.

Phase 2 01.07.2015 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)