The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection is preparing four large-scale digitization projects. In particular, it includes digitization of the electronic register of capacities of market operators, the introduction of electronic veterinary certificates, digitalization of phytosanitary services and processes, and also the development of the online platform for submission and tracking of complaints of consumers.

The stages of implementation of these digital services and their effect on business and consumers were discussed at a meeting at the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture chaired by Minister Ihor Petrashko. The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Ihor Diadiura and Serhii Hlushchenko, as well as acting head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection Olha Shevchenko.

"The introduction of digital services in the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection will have a positive impact for both market operators and ordinary consumers. First of all, we are talking about the optimization of business processes, about saving time, about convenience, about the possibility of exchanging documents with international partners, about the prevention of falsifications. The digitalization of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection is an important step towards integration with international information systems and strengthening our export opportunities," commented Ihor Petrashko, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine.

Thus, one of the projects is the improvement of the State Register of Capacities of Market Operators. Capacity registration will take place online through the "Diia" (Action) portal or the portal of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection. This will ensure the exchange of data with other state registers, as well as introduce a convenient web search engine on the portal of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection. It is planned that the project will be launched by the end of 2020.

Another project of digitalization of the service is the introduction of electronic international veterinary certificates. It will be possible to draw up documents online through a modern information system. It will also be available to verify the authenticity of certificates via QR-code (both for business and for foreign partners and inspectors). Among the advantages is the reduction of the financial burden on business for translation into 23 languages of the EU countries, as the translation of certificates in different languages will be automatic. In addition, it is planned to integrate the national system with other service registers, as well as with the European TRACES system.

Digitization of phytosanitary services and processes involves filing an application for registration of goods online, analyzing the filled documents; prevention of forgery of documents at export; reduction of international notifications on incorrect registration of phytosanitary certificates; operational control over the movement of goods; exchange of electronic phytosanitary certificates with trading partners, which will prevent the delay of cargo during customs clearance in the country of import. The integration of the national system with the HUB global system is also being implemented.

Among the projects voiced at the meeting was the development of an online platform for submitting and tracking consumer complaints. This tool will allow consumers to promptly submit appeals and receive information on their consideration, while the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumers Protection - to digitize and significantly increase the efficiency of the process of dealing with consumer appeals and complaints.