Creation of new Agrarian Policy Ministry deferred until March

Chief of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association (UCAB) Roman Slaston says addressing the issue of resuming the work of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine has been postponed until March since the new ministry's powers have not yet been determined.

The Committee on Agricultural and Land Policy of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, at a meeting failed to make a final decision on the division of responsibilities between the Ministry for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

"The decision was deferred until March 1," he wrote on Facebook on January 26.

According to Slaston, one of the controversial issues remains the further fate of Ukraine's State Food Safety and Consumer Protection Service.

"The Economy Ministry is trying to keep the State Food Safety and Consumer Protection Service for itself. And this is not the only controversial issue," he added.

Background

Read alsoRada appoints Minister for Agrarian PolicyOn December 17, the Verkhovna Rada supported the appointment of the incumbent head of the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre, Roman Leshchenko, as Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.

On December 28, the Cabinet of Ministers canceled the decision on merging the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food into the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture. Ihor Petrashko, Minister for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture, said that such a move was required for establishing a new Ministry of Agrarian Policy.

Petrashko assured that the government would try to create the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food as soon as possible.