Ukraine's organic farming area was 370,000 hectares in 2021 - deputy agrarian policy and food minister

MOSCOW. Nov 23 (Interfax) - The overall organic agricultural land area in Ukraine was 370,000 hectares in 2021, making it the fifth largest organic commodities exporter out of 126 countries to the European Union with a 6.6% share of this market.

Ukraine took 21st place in the world and 13th place in Europe in terms of its organic farming land area in 2020, Ukrainian First Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky said at the Online Organic Export Days event.

The production of organic commodities in Ukraine abides mostly by EU and U.S. laws, and such products are certified by more than 20 foreign institutions, Ukrainian media quoted Vysotsky as saying. Furthermore, the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry authorized 31 inspectors inside the country to oversee compliance with national legislation regulating organic food production.

The ministry is also working to finish formulating the legal principles of oversight in the field of organic food production, distribution and labeling, he said.

The Online Organic Export Days international virtual event is taking place on the B2Match platform and is due to run through to December 2. The goal of the conference is to present Ukraine's organic sector potential to importers and to promote cooperation between Ukrainian, Albanian and Serbian organic food producers and foreign customers.