Ukrainian Agrarian Forum (UAF) on behalf of its members Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), Ukrainian Agrarian Business Club Association, Agrarian Union of Ukraine, Ukrainian Association of Communities, Union of Poultry Farmers of Ukraine and Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, as well as the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the European Business Association, the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs, the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, the Ukrainian Grain Association, the Phytosanitary Association of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Agrarian Protection Control Association, and the Ukrainian Seed Association and the Seed Association of Ukraine appealed to the leadership of parliament and faction leaders to support the draft law "On Amendments to the Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine" On Pesticides and Agrochemicals" on the import of pesticides into the customs territory of Ukraine" Ref.2289 of October 18, 2019 at the next plenary session.

The Draft Law №2289 is expected for its discussion by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine more than a year. It aims to unblock the import of samples of innovative plant protection products for research and state testing by amending to the Article 4 of the Law of Ukraine "On Pesticides and Agrochemicals", according to which a mandatory condition for the import and use in Ukraine of samples of unregistered pesticides used for state testing and research is documentary evidence of their state registration in the country where they are produced, which in practice cannot be performed.

Thus, since 2016, manufacturers of innovative original plant protection products have faced the impossibility of conducting research and state testing and, subsequently, state registration of PPA in Ukraine due to the requirement mentioned before. As a result, Ukrainian farmers do not get access to modern PPA at the same time as their opponents (for example, from the EU and the USA) or do not get access to innovation at all due to the inexpediency or impossibility of registration in the country of production due to lack of targeted objects (pests, diseases, weeds).

As a result, the losses of farmers due to low yields at the same time are about UAH 3 billion annually. In addition, the state suffers because of economic losses, as the agricultural sector provides 39% of total exports, 19% of GDP and 40% of exchange earnings.

Ukrainian science also suffers, as research of innovative chemical and biological substances that could potentially be used in Ukrainian agriculture is one of the main factors in the development of Ukrainian agrochemical science. Thus, at the beginning of 2018, the leading manufacturers of original PPA were forced to reduce investment in research in Ukraine by 60%, and in 2019 - by more than 80%. About 95% of innovative specimens remain blocked.

In the case of the adoption of the draft law, in addition to the economic effect and the resumption of investment in research activities in the PPA sector, there will be a tangible and positive environmental effect. Innovative PPA of the new generation could significantly increase the level of greening of agriculture – it means to reduce the amount of PPA by 30-40%. In addition, they will reduce the volume of the working solution by 2 times, significantly increase the safety profile, because the new specimens are not washed away by rain, are not worn by wind, have a much shorter half-life and a much more effective target effect on the object.

On November 13, 2019, following the discussion of the draft law at a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, the Committee decided to recommend the Verkhovna Rada to adopt this draft law as a basis and as a whole as a law. At its meeting on February 5, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy concluded that the draft law meets the requirements of anti-corruption legislation.

Only for the fourth session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the IX convocation, the draft law was on the agenda 8 times.

Given the above, UAF appeals Deputies to listen to the business community and agricultural associations and to support the bill №2289 at the next plenary session.