
Members of Working Group 3 of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (UNP EaP CSF) are concerned about the current situation in Ukraine in support and development of environmentally oriented production and consumption and appeal to Ukrainian MPs and relevant government agencies to develop separate systemic legislation in the field of environmental labeling and do not amend existing laws.
OPEN APPEAL
Working Group 3 “Environment, Climate Change and Energy Security” UNP EaP CSF
We, the representatives of WG3 “Environment, Climate Change and Energy Security” of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (UNP EaP CSF), are concerned about the situation in Ukraine in terms of support and development of environmentally friendly production and consumption.
There is a worldwide practice that goods and services that meet certain environmental criteria and indicators of reduced environmental impact may receive an eco-label. In this way, eco-labeled products become more competitive and consumers have the opportunity to choose products that do not harm the environment.

Ukrainian legislation needs to be brought into line with key EU documents (EU Regulation No. 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the European Union Ecolabel). Environmental certification and product labeling are also identified as one of the main tools for implementing national environmental policy.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has registered draft law No. 6446, which proposes amendments to four current laws by introducing a reference to eco-labeling in their text and introducing an illiterate and rather strange for legislative terminology concept of “more environmentally friendly products”.
The changes proposed by the draft law No. 6446 contradict the current laws of Ukraine, already harmonized with EU standards. In general, this approach does not comply with the principles of lawmaking, because fragmentary changes to individual laws in no way solve the main problem – the need to create a holistic national eco-labeling system.
Moreover, the lack of clear rules and responsibilities creates serious corruption risks, which can prevent honest producers from engaging in environmentally oriented activities, violate consumer rights and generally create a negative image of our producers and products in the European market.
Obviously, this will not contribute to Ukraine’s European integration, especially given the active implementation of the European Green Course in the EU.
We believe it is necessary to develop separate systemic legislation in the field of eco-labeling based on the state’s approach to legislation, protect citizens from fraud and deception, prevent corruption risks and provide support for honest producers / service providers. Do not make changes to current laws.