Government strengthens oversight of GMOs: violating products may be seized

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has expanded the powers of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) regarding state control over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from them. The agency will be able to inspect GMO cultivation sites, control their circulation on the market, and make decisions on the withdrawal of products that do not meet legislative requirements.

The SSUFSCP announced this on October 19.

The relevant changes were approved by Cabinet Resolution No. 1273 dated October 15, 2026. The document clarifies the agency's functions in the field of control over genetic engineering activities and the use of GMOs.

The new powers extend to monitoring compliance with biosafety requirements in genetic engineering activities in closed systems, as well as the placement of GMOs and genetically modified products on the market.

This applies, in particular, to food products, feed, and other categories of products for which legislation provides appropriate requirements.

The SSUFSCP will also be responsible for maintaining a list of persons engaged in the production or cultivation of genetically modified plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

Separately, the agency will maintain a list of laboratories conducting GMO testing.

Inspectors will be able to examine plant cultivation sites to identify genetically modified organisms not included in the State Register of GMOs.

If violations are detected, the SSUFSCP will consider relevant cases. If products do not meet legislative requirements, the agency may decide to withdraw them from circulation and destroy them.

Thus, agricultural enterprises, food and feed producers should pay particular attention to compliance with requirements regarding the state registration of GMOs and the legality of their use in production.

At the same time, the innovations do not mean an automatic ban on all genetically modified products. The basis for their withdrawal must be non-compliance with established legislative requirements.

The resolution was adopted in implementation of the Law of Ukraine No. 3339-IX "On State Regulation of Genetic Engineering Activities and State Control over the Placement of Genetically Modified Organisms and Products on the Market".

The main provisions of this law came into force on September 16, 2026, after a three-year transition period. The law provides for updating the system of state registration of GMOs, requirements for their use, and control over products entering the Ukrainian market.

Based on materials from: State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine