The Quality FOOD Trade Program focuses on value addition for the export and domestic market in relation to the organic and dairy sectors. By doing so, it contributes to the overarching goal of sustainable and inclusive growth in Ukraine.
The program prioritizes two thematic areas in both sectors: (a) regulatory framework and business environment to strengthen product quality and safety and (b) capacity development to improve trade capacities:

Regulatory framework and business environment for improved product quality and safety:

The program contributes to increase awareness about organic agriculture and milk safety among public institutions at national and oblast levels so that the partners are competent to conduct their awareness creation campaigns. Capacities of responsible authorities are built up to improve, adopt, and enforce relevant legislation with by-laws, food safety authorities routinely integrate risk-based concepts in their risk-management procedures.

Capacity development for improved trade capacities:

The program contributes to building up capacities among private and public sector service providers to respond to the demands of the organic and dairy sector stakeholders to improve trade with value-added products. These efforts are complemented by an organic multi-stakeholder platform that aims to promote diversified organic trade; and the implementation of a risk-based control program for the safety of raw milk.

For the organic sector, capacities are developed in the public sector with the responsible entities in the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, and State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection as well as in the private sector such as organic service providers. For the dairy sector, capacities are developed in the public sector with the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the responsible entities in the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, and the private sector on a number of associations like the dairy processor associations and milk producers associations.

The program will support the Carpathian Taste Public Union to implement a sound capacity development strategy to ensure the strengthening and sustainable institutional development, enhance members’ capacity and commitment to understand and realize the concept of the Public Union.