Pea Exports to China: UPSA Organizes Meeting with the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection for Association Members

The Ukraine Pulse and Soybean Association (UPSA) held a closed meeting with representatives of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection for its members, focusing on the practical aspects of exporting peas to China.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection Vadym Chaikovskyi, Director of the Department of Phytosanitary Safety and Plant Production Control Andrii Chelombitko, and representative of the Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine Ruslan Haiovyi.

“The opening of the Chinese market for Ukrainian peas is the result of several years of complex and consistent work, in which the association acted as a key coordinator between business and the state. Since 2019, we have supported the negotiations, helped enterprises prepare for the requirements, and sought solutions under conditions of restrictions. When inspections became impossible, in accordance with the requirements of the Chinese side, a detailed video inspection of production at all stages of certification, as well as of fields, transshipment facilities, and storage premises, was organized. A film over 2 hours long, with English translation and voice-over, became the main requirement for the final stage on the part of the Chinese side. In parallel, we maintained constant communication through diplomatic channels to ensure that the process did not stop. Therefore, today we have the result — agreed access of Ukrainian enterprises to the market of the People’s Republic of China,”  said UPSA President Antonina Skliarenko.

During the meeting, participants thoroughly reviewed the new procedural approaches applied under the pea export protocol to China. Attendees were guided through the structure of phytosanitary requirements, the use of official materials published on the website of the State Service, and the specifics of compiling the list of enterprises authorized to export.

A separate part of the discussion focused on state control. In particular, attention was given to the introduction of a new element for exporters — the issuance of an inspection report following an unplanned state supervision measure in the field of food safety. Representatives of the State Service explained the overall logic of such inspections, their structure, and the list of issues that may be applied depending on the type of enterprise, including processing facilities.

UPSA members were given an exclusive opportunity to ask questions regarding their business operations. Participants actively engaged in the discussion, particularly on the list of documents required for supplier registration, the process of undergoing unplanned inspections, the content of inspection reports, and the criteria for inclusion in the approved list of exporters.

During the meeting, representatives of the State Service highlighted the active role of the association in opening the Chinese market and thanked UPSA for its systematic work and coordination with the business community.

“Ukrainian companies have gained the opportunity to export peas to China. At the same time, our task is not yet complete, as it is important that as many companies as possible go through all the necessary procedures and join the export process. That is why we organize such meetings, where businesses can receive direct clarifications and ask questions relevant to their operations. It is important for us that association members have access to up-to-date information and clearly understand the practical steps they need to take. We will continue to support this process and help companies adapt to the requirements of the Chinese market,” she added.