Ukraine claims that the new requirements are in compliance with provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 543/2008 of 16 June 2008 Council Regulati on (EC) No. 1234/2007.

In August 2013, after debates with domestic poultry producers and consumer organizations, Ukraine’s Ministry of Health adopted and published the “Hygienic Requirements for Poultry Meat and Some Quality Indicators.”

The requirements closely resemble Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 adopted on 16 June 2008 and laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultry meat.

This regulation does not extend the processing facilities requirements on foreign producers and households producing poultry meat for own consumption.

However it introduces unified requirements as to moisture content in poultry meat, packaging and labeling.

It also contains a detailed description of the sampling rules and methods used for analysis of poultry and poultry parts. The official notification can be found on WTO website by clicking here.

By this law Ukraine introduces EU-compatible classification of whole birds: A-class and B-class.

In order to be classified as A Class the poultry should be intact, taking into account the presentation; clean, free from any visible foreign matter, dirt or blood; free of any foreign smell; free of visible bloodstains except those which are small and unobtrusive; free of protruding broken bones; free of severe contusions.