Digitalization of Plant Protection: Agrisector prepares for major changes
QR codes instead of paper documents, electronic registration instead of bureaucratic offices, and full traceability of products — Ukraine is preparing one of the largest digital reforms in the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, together with specialized agencies, has already begun preparing the market for the launch of a unified digital system of state registration in the field of plant protection. This system will form the basis of new industry rules and bring Ukrainian regulation closer to EU standards.
Key Changes
1. Mandatory registration
State registration becomes compulsory for all professional operators whose activities involve the circulation of plants and plant products requiring phytosanitary certificates or passports. This includes distributors of plant protection products (PPPs), agro-consultants, specialized laboratories, and companies conducting equipment inspections or training. Small operators (e.g., private households) supplying minor quantities of plants or seeds directly to end consumers outside of online trade are exempt. Logistics companies engaged solely in transportation also remain outside mandatory registration.
2. Online interaction
All communication between businesses and state authorities will move online via the automated PHIS (Phytosanitary Inspection System). Integrated with the Trembita platform, the system instantly verifies identity through Diia.Signature and retrieves necessary company codes (EDRPOU, KVED) from state registries. Authorities will have up to 5 working days to review applications.
3. Unified identification system
Each participant will receive a unique alphanumeric code reflecting their status and authority. Separate codes will be assigned to professional PPP users, distributors, agro-consultants, laboratories, and operators authorized to issue plant passports or mark wooden packaging. For example, distributors of PPPs will carry marker D, while agro-consultants will carry marker A. Professional users of the most hazardous Class I pesticides will receive marker U1, but only after completing specialized training and passing an exam — without which legal purchase of chemicals will be impossible.
4. Total traceability
A comprehensive control chain will be introduced, where every phytosanitary certificate, plant passport, or packaging label will be assigned a unique QR code.
Inspectors in the field or at customs will be able to scan a code within seconds and check where the product was manufactured, which laboratory tested it, and whether the farmer has the right to use it.
5. Updated Registers and Responsibility for Violations
- Timely updates
Businesses are obliged to promptly update data in case of any changes.
- Immediate sanctions
If falsification or critical violations are detected, the decision to terminate registration is made immediately, and the operator is excluded from the system the very next day.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, Taras Vysotskyi, emphasized:
"The transition to digital tools is both a requirement of European integration and a simplification of conditions for Ukrainian business. Thanks to the interaction of the PHIS and Trembita platforms, we completely eliminate corruption risks and reduce application review to just a few days. The new system guarantees unprecedented product traceability, opening a 'green corridor' for legal exporters to the EU and reliably protecting our market from counterfeits. At the same time, the state has minimized any regulatory pressure on small producers."
Background
The introduction of the unified digital system is one of the key elements of implementing the Law of Ukraine “On State Regulation in the Field of Plant Protection”, which will fully enter into force on January 17, 2028, ensuring the sector’s transition to modern European standards. A number of specialized state registers will be created as part of the reform, launched gradually.
Currently, the preparatory period is underway. The State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection is developing and testing the digital infrastructure, while conducting consultations and explanatory work with representatives of the agricultural sector, industry associations, laboratories, and training centers.
The explanatory materials were prepared with the support of the EU project “Further support for aligning Ukrainian legislation, control, and awareness with EU legislation in the field of food safety, animal health and welfare, and phytosanitary issues” (EU4SaferFood).