On March 17^th, Oleksii Pavlenko, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, held a meeting with representatives of the European Business Association (EBA).

In the course of the meeting, Minister Oleksii Pavlenko told the representatives of the business community and those present at the meeting about the prospects of trade development between Ukraine and the EU countries, opening new markets for domestic agricultural products, and the measures to bring Ukrainian legislation in line with the regulations and standards of the EU.

The Minister drew attention to the positive developments in the sphere of deregulation and simplification of business conditions in Ukraine.

“We have abolished 56 licensing procedures, thus greatly simplifying the life of the Ukrainian businesses. It is worth mentioning that in the process of deregulation there are actively engaged representatives of the EBA as well. Throughout 2015, the Association was involved in the development of comprehensive changes in the existing regulatory framework in the agricultural sector, which include improving the business environment and harmonizing some national laws with the EU regulations”, Oleksii Pavlenko noted.

Answering the questions of business representatives, the Minister reported on the progress of spring field works in the country. “According to preliminary data from the regions, on the whole cultivated area by all categories of farms in 2016 harvest is expected to reach 26.7 million hectares, similar to the level of 2015. Given the favorable weather conditions, this year 19 regions have already started sowing of early spring grains, in the area of 502 hectares or 20% of the forecast. All regions are fertilizing winter grain crops”.

The meeting was also attended by Volodymyr Lapa, the Chairman of the State Inspection for Consumer Protection of Ukraine, Oleksandr Verzhykhovskyi, the Deputy Head of the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service, and Olena Kovaliova, the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.