Analytical review reforming the system of state food quality control and consumer protection in Ukraine

Abstract

The safety of food products and food raw materials is one of the decisive economic components of each state and is determined by the ability of the country to effectively control the quality and safety of manufactured and imported food products. This sphere of activity has extremely important humanitarian, social, economic and political aspects in society. The consumption of quality and safe food depends on human health, its productivity and biological life. On the other hand, the development of high-quality food products and food raw materials and their export is a high level of GDP, a guarantee of a prosperous and financially independent country.

The statement of this issue is relevant both for the state in general and for each individual household and person as the final consumer of the agro-industrial complex (AIC) products, especially in the context of European integration processes, which require revision of the regulatory and legislative framework and the standardization system as a whole in order to implement advanced European practices in domestic realities.  Our state has all the necessary resources to ensure a high rating among the agricultural producer’s countries. But, the priority task should be not the production of raw materials, but the final product of consumption. That is why, because of the not stable economic and political conditions, the priority for Ukraine is to support and develop the production of high-quality, safe food with a high level of processing that is in line with international standards and based on HACCP principles.

The issue of food quality control and protection of consumer rights is characterized by rapid legislative transformations caused by the formation of the European vector of Ukraine's development. In line with the global goals of sustainable UN development, one of the main priorities is "overcoming hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agricultural development." It specifies clear tasks aimed at increasing productivity, profitability, rationality, investment and the protection of natural resources.

In order to increase the safety of products which cover all parts of the food chain, implementing state control in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures "from field - the table" as required by European legislation in Ukraine established or legally binding requirements for the use of permanent procedures based on the principles of the system analysis of hazardous factors and control at critical points ( HACCP - eng. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points).

The introduction of a new food safety management system based on HACCP principles should solve certain problems, in particular: to reduce the load and increase the level of personal responsibility of market operators, to create conditions for preventing the impact of negative factors  at manufacturing site and to ensure the competitiveness of domestic producers. The ISO international standardization system today is a unified mechanism for assessing the quality of production and management.

Taking into account new requirements, responsibility for poor quality food group products, transferred from the state to commodity producers. Control includes not only end products, but also can be checked production, transportation and storage of products of the food group. In general, the new legislation is developed from the point of view of protecting the rights of consumers and is aimed at ensuring the safety of these foods.

The legislative reform, oriented to European standards, simplifies the work of AIC enterprises by exempting them from obligatory controlling inspections, shifting the responsibility for the quality and safety of food products and food raw to commodity producers. It is aimed at ensuring the country's food security and competitiveness domestic products in the internal market; strengthening leadership in the global food market and governmental agricultural products; ensuring transparency and predictability of agrarian policy. This will allow stabilizing the country's economy, raising the welfare of the population, and, in the future, to implement the European standards of living for its citizens and ensure Ukraine a leading position among other states.