The organic market in Ukraine is a segment of the economy aimed at the production, circulation and consumption of organic products. The organic market in Ukraine includes the cultivation, production and/or circulation of various agri-food products in accordance with the organic production standards established by Ukrainian and/or international legislation. This market is an important segment of the Ukrainian agriculture and consumer market, which contributes to the preservation of the environment, maintenance of soil, plant, animal and human health, and development of sustainable agriculture.
Domestic market
In Ukraine, as of 31 December 2022, the total area of agricultural land under organic production and in-conversion is 263,619 hectares (0.6% of the total area of agricultural land in Ukraine), including the area of organic agricultural land – 246,126 hectares, the area of agricultural land in-conversion – 17,493 hectares. The total number of operators is 462, including 380 agricultural producers.
In recent years, before 24 February 2022, the domestic market increased in sales and the range of organic products continued to expand.
Due to Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, domestic sales of Ukrainian organic products decreased by 36% in volume (6,280 tons) and 48% in value (about US$17 million) in 2022 compared to 2021.
Ukrainian organic products on the domestic market include milk and dairy products, vegetables, fruits and mushrooms, cereals and groats, flour, seeds, snacks, eggs, meat products, juices, beverages, pastes, canned products, oils, condiments and spices, sugar and other products, including bakery products, varenyky (dumplings with different fillings), pelmeni (meat dumplings), honey, chocolate, and tea and coffee.
Export During 2022, despite the full-scale war Ukraine exported 245,600 metric tons of organic products in the amount of US$219 million to 36 countries around the world, which is almost the same as in 2021 (261,000 metric tonnes, US$222 million). 95% of organic products from Ukraine were exported to European countries. Most products were exported by rail and road. Export volumes by vessels decreased, in particular, air transportation for export from Ukraine became impossible.
The largest importing countries of Ukrainian organic products in 2022 were the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic. Ukrainian organic producers also exported to some countries in Asia and North America.
The most exported organic products from Ukraine included corn, soybeans, and wheat. Other exports included sunflower oil, sunflower cake, sunflower seeds, frozen blueberries, barley, rapeseed, millet, and other products.
According to the European Commission's Report, in 2022, Ukraine ranked 3rd out of 125 countries by volume of organic products imported to the EU. Thus, in 2022, the EU imported 2.73 million tonnes of organic agri-food products, including 219 thousand tonnes (8%) from Ukraine, which is 85% of total Ukrainian organic export. Thus, Ukraine had leading positions among the exporting countries to the EU, having exported 93 thousand tonnes (77.1%) of cereals (excluding wheat and rice) and 20 thousand tonnes (22%) of organic oilseeds (excluding soybeans).
Regulation As of March 2024, organic production in Ukraine is regulated by the Law of Ukraine "On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products", as well as relevant by-laws.
Regarding the history of development and implementation of organic legislation in Ukraine, initially, on 21 April 2011, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On Organic Production". The document defined the legal, economic, social and organisational framework for organic agriculture, requirements for growing, producing, processing, certification, labelling, transporting, storing and selling organic products and raw materials. But this law was not implemented.
In 2014, the Law "On the Production and Circulation of Organic Agricultural Products and Raw Materials" was adopted. This was the main legislative act in the field of organic market regulation until 2018.
Already on 10 July 2018, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products” No. 2496, and on 2 August 2019 it was enacted.
In May 2023, the National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine issued the first accreditation certificate to Organic Standard LLC. In June 2023, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy included Organic Standard LLC in the State Register of Certification Bodies in the Field of Organic Production and Circulation of Organic Products, which allowed it to start certifying organic production and/or circulation of organic products in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation.
In August 2023, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy launched the Register of Operators that Produce Organic Products in Compliance with the Legislation in Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products.
Labelling
State logo for organic products Labelling of products put into circulation and sold as organic products is carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products”. A product may be labelled as an organic if it is produced following legal requirements in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products and contains at least 95% of organic ingredients of agricultural origin (by weight, excluding water and table salt) and no more than 5 per cent (by weight) of non-organic ingredients included in the List of substances (ingredients, components) authorised for use in organic production and permitted for use in food. Organic production of such a product shall be confirmed by a certificate.
Organic products put into circulation and sold shall be labelled with the state logo for organic products.
The state logo for organic products shall be placed exclusively on the products produced according to the Law of Ukraine “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Circulation and Labelling of Organic Products”, which is confirmed by a certificate that ensures that the production process and circulation of products comply with the legal requirements in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products.
The state logo is approved by Order No. 67 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy from 22 February 2019, can be applied to any packaging, label (sticker), consumer packaging, back label, bottle collar, docket, cork, information sheet, documents, statement, and other packaging elements accompanying the organic products.
The state logo for organic products is registered as a trademark and belongs to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
The requirements for the correct use of the state logo for organic products and their labelling are described on the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, as well as in the Guidelines for the use of the state logo for organic products.
In September 2023, during the conference “Organic Day in Ukraine” the first 50 Ukrainian organic producers who were certified according to the Ukrainian organic legislation in the field of organic production, circulation and labelling of organic products and can label their products with the state logo were awarded.
Participation in BIOFACH
Ukraine was represented at BioFach, the world's leading trade fair for organic food, for the first time in 2014. Since then, Ukraine has participated annually, including during the period of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As of 2025, Ukrainian companies have been represented at BIOFACH for 12 consecutive years.
In 2014, Ukraine participated for the first time with an organic National Pavilion at BIOFACH. The pavilion included nine Ukrainian companies and was organised within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Organic Market Development Project, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL). The participation allowed Ukrainian representatives to interact with international buyers and industry representatives and supported further cooperation in the field of organic agriculture.
In 2015, Ukraine participated in the international organic trade fair BIOFACH with a National Pavilion for the second time, featuring again nine exhibiting companies presenting certified organic food: cereals, pulses, sunflower seeds, oil, berries, and other products and services. The pavilion was coordinated by a consortium of Ukrainian organic stakeholders with support from international partners.
In 2016, eleven companies showcased their products within the National Pavilion of Ukraine during BIOFACH 2016. The pavilion was coordinated by a consortium of Ukrainian organic stakeholders with support from national and international partners. According to the Organic Federation of Ukraine, approximately 400,000 hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine were certified organic at the time and cultivated by around 200 producers.
In 2017, seventeen Ukrainian companies participated in BIOFACH under the National Pavilion of Ukraine. The growth in exhibitor numbers corresponded with an increase in organically certified land and producers in Ukraine. The pavilion was supported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, alongside international partners.
In 2018, Ukraine marked its fifth consecutive year of participation at BIOFACH with the National Pavilion of Ukraine representing twenty companies, including producers of cereals, oilseeds, berries, tea, tomato products, and a certification body. The exhibition area of the Ukrainian pavilion increased compared to previous years. The pavilion received support from Ukrainian authorities as well as international partners, including Swiss, German, and multilateral organisations.
Twenty-five Ukrainian exporters participated in BIOFACH 2019. The National Pavilion of Ukraine covered 130 m2 focused on higher value-added products, including oils, teas, honey, tomato paste, dairy products, juices, and fruit pastes. The Ukrainian policy delegation, led by Deputy Minister Olga Trofimtseva, attended the event to engage in international dialogue and meetings with policymakers and stakeholders in the organic sector. A total of 37 Ukrainian companies were represented at BIOFACH 2020 through two collective stands and individual exhibition stands. Compared to earlier years, the range of products presented by Ukrainian exhibitors expanded. While the first National Pavilion of Ukraine primarily featured raw organic products, by 2020, a broader selection of higher value-added organic products was displayed. Seventeen Ukrainian companies, including producers, processors, and traders, participated in the National Pavilion under the name Organic Ukraine Business Hub.
BIOFACH 2021 was held online as BIOFACH eSpecial due to COVID-19 restrictions. Thirty-four Ukrainian exporters participated in the trade fair, with 22 companies presenting over 200 organic products within the National Pavilion of Ukraine, Organic Ukraine Business Hub. The pavilion was organised by a non-governmental organisation active in the Ukrainian organic sector, with support from American and Swiss international technical assistance programmes.