Ukraine to harmonize standards for fruit juices with European ones

MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry plans to update requirements that fruit juices and some other similar food products for human use have to comply with in order to bring Ukraine's regulations in line with the European Union's laws.

Ukrainian media reported that the ministry has published a relevant draft decree it has drawn up on its website for discussions.

An explanatory note to the draft says that, apart from harmonizing the requirements, the initiative is also aimed at upholding the right of consumers to have accurate information on products available on the market.

In particular, the document proposes endorsing requirements for terminology, quality characteristics, the coding and labeling of fruit juices and some similar food products to ensure the market's smooth functioning and provide conditions for informing consumers on the properties of these products, including through their labeling.

An appendix to the document presents recommendations on using special (commonly known foreign) names for fruit juices and similar food products.

The document stipulates that fruit juices and some similar food products meeting requirements valid before a published order takes effect may remain on the market until the expiry date or the expiration of the product's minimum shelf life, but no longer than three years after the adoption of the order.

Proposals on adjusting the document shall be accepted within one month from its promulgation.