Ukraine is proposing enhanced safety and management measures for chemicals and substances of biological origin through legislative and technical updates.
Ukraine has published a draft law that will tighten safety rules for chemicals and biologically derived products, aligning its regulations with European Union standards and international conventions. The changes will affect importers, manufacturers and distributors of hazardous substances, mercury-containing goods and genetically modified organisms. The government will pay for the new oversight system; companies selling the goods will pay for testing, registration and compliance paperwork.
The draft, notified to the World Trade Organization on 17 August 2026, covers everything from industrial solvents to cosmetics, pesticides and seeds. It introduces new registration, labelling and packaging rules for hazardous substances and mixtures, and bans or restricts the import, export and use of mercury and mercury-containing products. The law is scheduled to take effect the day after it is officially published1.
What the draft law changes
The draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring Chemical Safety and Chemicals Management” updates three existing statutes: the Law on Chemical Safety and Chemicals Management, the Law on Waste Management and the Law on Administrative Procedure. It also transposes two EU regulations—REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures)—and fulfils Ukraine’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury1.
Three obligations the draft creates
Under the new rules, every chemical substance and mixture must be registered in a national database before it can be sold. The registration dossier must include a safety data sheet that lists hazards, safe-handling instructions and emergency measures. For substances classified as hazardous, the sheet must be translated into Ukrainian and attached to every shipment1.
The law also introduces a pre-market approval requirement for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from biotechnology. Companies must submit a risk assessment conducted by an accredited laboratory and obtain a permit from the Ministry of Environment before placing any GMO on the market. The permit is valid for five years and must be renewed before expiry2.
Who must comply and by when
The rules apply to any company that manufactures, imports, distributes or uses chemicals or biologically derived products in Ukraine. This includes producers of industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pesticides, fertilisers, seeds and food additives. Importers must ensure that every shipment is accompanied by the required documentation and that the goods meet Ukrainian safety standards before they cross the border1.
Who has to act
The law will enter into force on the day after its official publication1. Companies have until 16 October 2026 to submit comments on the draft; after that, the Cabinet of Ministers will finalise the text and send it to parliament. Once adopted, businesses will have a six-month transition period to register existing substances and obtain the necessary permits1.
What the new rules cost
The government will fund the creation and maintenance of the national chemical registry and the oversight agencies. Companies will bear the direct costs of compliance: laboratory testing, dossier preparation, translation and registration fees. The Ministry of Economy has not yet published the fee schedule, but similar EU registration costs range from €1,000 to €50,000 per substance, depending on volume and hazard level1.
Registration cost per substance, comparable EU fees
For mercury-containing products, the law bans the import and manufacture of certain items, including batteries, switches, lamps and measuring devices. Companies that currently sell these goods must phase them out within 18 months of the law’s entry into force. The ministry estimates that the ban will affect about 300 product lines and require manufacturers to redesign or replace them1.
How the rules fit into Ukraine’s broader environmental strategy
The draft law is part of Ukraine’s National Strategy for the Preservation of Biological Diversity until 2035, adopted by presidential decree in December 2021. The strategy sets four goals: to halt biodiversity loss, restore degraded ecosystems, integrate biodiversity considerations into economic planning and strengthen institutional capacity. It also commits Ukraine to implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes 23 action-oriented targets for urgent measures by 20302.
A separate Conservation Strategy, approved in 2023, identifies chemical pollution and invasive species as two of the six main threats to Ukraine’s ecosystems. The strategy calls for the elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies and the introduction of economic incentives for sustainable land use. It also mandates the creation of a national system for assessing ecosystem services, so that the economic value of clean water, pollination and carbon storage can be factored into policy decisions3.
What comes next for chemicals and biological substances
The Cabinet of Ministers must finalise the draft law by the end of 2026 and submit it to the Verkhovna Rada for approval. If adopted, the law will take effect in early 2027, with a six-month grace period for existing substances. The Ministry of Environment will then begin issuing permits for GMOs and mercury-containing products, and the national chemical registry will open for submissions1.
The timetable, and what falls due
| Date | Who it catches | What falls due |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2026 | All interested parties | Comments on the draft |
| End 2026 | Cabinet of Ministers | Finalise text, submit to the Verkhovna Rada |
| Early 2027 | All companies | Law takes effect; registry opens for submissions |
| Six months after effect | Holders of existing substances | Register substances and obtain permits |
| 18 months after effect | Sellers of mercury-containing goods | Phase out batteries, switches, lamps and measuring devices |
Ukraine’s participation in the EU’s HelpNet network and its collaboration with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will continue. In May 2026, Ukraine attended its first HelpNet meeting as an observer, discussing the implementation of REACH and CLP. ECHA has pledged technical support under the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, including training for Ukrainian officials and help with drafting secondary legislation4.
The next major milestone is the 2028 review of the national biodiversity strategy. By then, the government must report on progress towards the 23 global targets, including the elimination of harmful subsidies, the restoration of degraded ecosystems and the integration of biodiversity considerations into all relevant policies. The review will also assess the effectiveness of the new chemical safety rules and their impact on trade and investment2.
Sources
- ↩ Draft Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Ensuring Chemical Safety and Chemicals Management” https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN26/UKR399.docx
- ↩ Approval of the Strategy for the Preservation of Biological Diversity of Ukraine until 2035 https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/go/708-2026-%D1%80
- ↩ Approval of the Conservation Strategy and Increase in Chemical Management System Implementation https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/708-2026-%D1%80
- ↩ Ukraine Joins First European Chemical Regulation Meeting https://me.gov.ua/News/Detail/1d359531-d95c-4a7d-bfa8-02ca9428b23f?lang=uk-UA&title=ReachIClp-UkrainaVpersheVzialaUchastUZasidannivropeiskogoKhimichnogoAgentstva