STANDARDIZATION AND CERTIFICATION OF GRAIN IN UKRAINE AND THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

Abstract

Ukraine signed the economic part of the European Union Association Agreement. It means that Ukraine should conform fully its national standards to the standards accepted through the territory of the European Union. Product compliance with the guidelines and standards of the EU is quite high appreciation of quality that is valuable at trade markets of many countries. Presently, certification of Ukrainian grain isn’t compulsory for its realization in Ukraine. To do this it’s enough to conduct analysis of grain lot as for the compliance with specifications. Doing in such a way a manufacturer proves that his production is qualitative. Compulsory certification of grain is a requirement by its realization to the European Union countries. To get a preferential access to the EU market within the free trade zone it’s necessary to confirm that the products are from Ukraine and to get EUR.1 certificate. The article deals with comparison of Ukrainian state standard for wheat grain with the requirements of the European Union regulations. Quality indicators of grain crops, which are regulated by the standards of both countries, are analyzed. Common characteristics and differences by defining grain quality are shown. The analysis of techniques for the defining of the main quality indicators is conducted. While exporting wheat from Ukraine to the European Union countries it’s necessary to take into account beforehand common (average) potentialities of exported grain use and to compare the grain quality not only on the basis of protein or gluten content in it, but also to compare quality of product derivatives and other consumer qualities. It’s impossible to compare fully the standards of different countries because there is a difference in the techniques of defining the classification parameters. Therefore, the certification of wheat sample classified according to the existing standard is important. By defining quality indicators it’s also essential to conduct analysis with the help of the same methods as it could be done by the foreign customers. Besides we should examine price as an indicator which is formed under the influence of market factors, whereas the difference in prices for grain with different quality indicators can vary greatly in different years.

Keywords

• wheat
• standard
• grain quality
• quality indicators
• trade exchanges
• exports
• contracts