The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is proposed to adopt Bill №3516 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning Food Products Imitating Milk and Dairy Products”, which will regulate the sale of quality milk and products that imitate it.
This was stated by Oleg Tarasov, author of the bill, MP “Servant of the People”, chairman of the subcommittee on improving the structure of public administration in the field of agro-industrial complex.
“The bill concerns food products that mimic milk and dairy products, which, in particular, establish strict financial liability for violating the requirements for labeling, sale of dairy and imitation products at the law level,” said Tarasov.
According to him, the need to protect the interests of consumers of dairy products has long been ripe, since the advent of technologies for the production of dairy foods using vegetable (palm) fats, proteins, lactose substitutes and more.
“The problem of large-scale falsification of dairy products has led to the fact that in recent years in Ukraine there has been a significant reduction in consumption of dairy products in the domestic market, which does not exceed 50% of physiological human needs. Citizens simply do not have the opportunity to distinguish a quality product on the shelves of grocery stores from counterfeits disguised under them, “- said the deputy.
Note that the draft law №3516 sets requirements for proper information to the buyer, so that the label, packaging, other types of labeling under the main name of the food product that mimics milk and dairy products, and the sign for goods and services placed the text: “Imitation product. Contains substitutes for milk components. A similar approach is practiced in the EU. For example, in Poland such products are called analogues – “cheese analogue”, “feta analogue” and so on.
“Imitation products must be accompanied by comprehensive and accessible information for the consumer so that he can make an informed choice. In addition, in the interests and for the convenience of customers, a requirement is introduced to place dairy products separately from imitation ones, ”explains Oleg Tarasov.
In addition, for violation of the labeling requirements, it is proposed to impose a fine of 100% of the value of the product produced or received for sale. Violation of the requirements for the sale of separate dairy and imitation products will be fined in the amount of 5 to 8 minimum wages (for example, the size of the minimum wage this year – from 23.6 thousand UAH to 37.7 thousand UAH).
