State Certificates in Farm Animal Welfare Are Mandatory for Farm Employees: AMP Implementation Guide

As of January 1, 2026, updated animal welfare requirements are in effect in Ukraine.

Personnel at facilities whose duties include the housing, killing, or transportation of farm animals and/or the performance of related operations must possess sufficient knowledge and skills to comply with animal welfare legislation.

Confirmation of sufficient knowledge is provided by a State Certificate regarding the possession of proper knowledge and skills in farm animal welfare during housing, transportation, slaughter, and related operations.

Personnel who cannot confirm sufficient knowledge and skills and do not hold the aforementioned State Certificate may not be permitted by the facility operator to engage in the housing, killing, or transportation of farm animals, or related operations.

At the request of a state veterinary inspector, farm personnel are required to present one of the following (at their choice):

1. The State Certificate;
2. An extract from the Register of State Certificates;
3. A temporary permit.

State Certificates in the field of animal welfare are issued by the territorial bodies of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) (regional SSUFSCP offices at your place of operation).

Who needs the certificate? It is mandatory for those who:

• Care for farm animals;
• Work on livestock farms and complexes;
• Transport animals;
• Perform animal intake and slaughter;
• Perform other tasks affecting the animals' condition and welfare.

Conditions for obtaining the certificate:

1. Complete training at an educational institution or facility authorized by the SSUFSCP (currently, no educational institutions have received such authorization);
2. Utilize the transition period: temporarily, until January 1, 2027, for those employees with over one year of practical farm work experience, such experience is recognized as equivalent to completing animal welfare training.

However, after the transition period ends on January 1, 2027, employees will still need to undergo training to renew their State Certificate.

To obtain a certificate for the relevant type of activity, you must contact the territorial body of the SSUFSCP and submit:

1. An Application for the certificate (Important: use the template adapted by AMP in coordination with SSUFSCP — you can obtain the form by contacting an AMP manager);
2. A Written Declaration attached to the application (by which the employee confirms they have not been prosecuted for animal cruelty or violations of animal welfare legislation);
3. A properly certified copy of the employment record book (if available) or information on labor activity from the register of insured persons of the State Register of Compulsory Social Insurance;
4. Proof of payment for the administrative service of issuing the State Certificate (the invoice is provided by the regional SSUFSCP office).

The fee for issuing the State Certificate is set at 0.03 of the minimum wage effective on January 1 of the calendar year in which the SSUFSCP territorial body received the application. As of January 1, 2026, this amount is 259.41 UAH.

! Important: If an employee seeking a State Certificate for animal welfare during housing has 1+ years of practical experience with cattle and other types of farm animals (e.g., they also work on your pig or poultry farm), all these types of farm animals should be listed in the Application (contact AMP for guidance).

Press Service of the Association of Milk Producers

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