The first five dairy producers will be able to begin exports next year / Image from UNIAN
The first five Ukrainian dairy companies plan to undergo all required procedures by the end of the year to gain access to the European market, according to Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Oleksiy Pavlenko.
"Information available shows that at least five companies will be able to meet all the EU quality requirements by the end of the year," Pavlenko said at a press conference.
In his words, ten shortlisted companies are now being examined whether they comply with the EU's technical and technological requirements.
"I'm going to Brussels next week. I'm scheduled to meet with a European Commissioner, in particular, [we'll discuss how to make] the dairy market more open," Pavlenko said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine has asked the EU to increase export quotas and provide more opportunities for Ukrainian producers' access to the European market. Among the main factors that restrain Ukrainian dairy exports to the EU are the low quality and high price of milk, according to exports. By opening new markets Ukraine may compensate the loss of the Russian market, which accounted for 90% of dairy exports.
At the same time, the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry recommends that farmers adapt production in line with the export quotas already opened by the European Union, which will boost Ukrainian food shipments to those countries. In particular, farmers have not fully used this year's quota for lamb exports to the EU as well as quotas for the supply of sugar syrup, straw, wheat gluten, starch, mushrooms, sweet corn, garlic and other products to European consumers.