Comparative analysis of state veterinary control systems in Ukraine and EU countries

Abstract

In the modern world, ensuring food safety is an important component of the national security of each country. Veterinary control includes a system of measures aimed at ensuring animal health, protecting human health from zoonotic diseases, as well as regulating the circulation of products of animal origin (Prylipko et al., 2025). Veterinary control in the countries of the European Union is carried out at a high level, which guarantees the safety of food products for consumers. At the same time, in Ukraine, the veterinary control system is at the stage of reform, in particular, in the context of adaptation to European standards (Velichko & Sorokin, 2021). The purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of state veterinary control systems in Ukraine and the countries of the European Union, focusing, in particular, on the legal, organizational and technical aspects of these systems, to identify key problems, determine the prospects for their solution in the context of Ukraine's integration into the European legal framework and ensuring proper food safety. The object of the study is the system of state veterinary control in Ukraine and the countries of the European Union, in particular, legal, organizational and technological aspects, interaction between various state bodies responsible for food safety control and animal health. The system of state veterinary control in Ukraine is based on legislative acts, in particular, the Laws of Ukraine «On Veterinary Medicine», «On Basic Principles and Requirements for the Safety and Quality of Food Products», other regulatory legal acts regulating sanitary and epidemiological safety and animal health. An important stage is also the reform of the veterinary service within the framework of the Association Agreement with the EU, which provides for the gradual integration of Ukrainian legislation with European standards in the field of veterinary medicine. The control system involves monitoring the health of animals, conducting clinical examinations, and analyzing and certifying products of animal origin. Among the main state bodies that carry out control in Ukraine is the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection. In the EU, the veterinary control system is regulated by European legislation, in particular, by EU Regulations 882/2004 (on official controls) and 853/2004 (on the hygiene of food of animal origin). In the EU, animal health control is carried out through national veterinary services, which have clearly defined responsibilities and functions (European Commission, 2004). The European veterinary control system includes a number of measures: scheduled inspections of farms, control of the movement of animals and animal products across borders, interaction with international organizations (WTO, UN, WHO). EU countries actively use modern technologies for control, in particular, monitoring the health of animals and checking the safety of food products through laboratory tests (European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2019). The main differences between the veterinary control systems in Ukraine and the EU are, in particular: 1. Legal and organizational aspects: in Ukraine, the control system is at the stage of adaptation to European standards, while in EU countries, control is more integrated and standardized at the level of all members of the European Community. 2. Personnel issues: in the EU, the veterinary control system has highly qualified personnel, as emphasized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In Ukraine, there is a shortage of competent highly qualified specialists in the field of veterinary medicine, which complicates the implementation of modern state control requirements. 3. Financing and logistical base: EU countries have better financing and access to modern equipment for veterinary and sanitary control, which is lacking in Ukraine. 32 Adaptation of the national system of state control to European standards is an important direction for the development of veterinary medicine in Ukraine. Urgent problems that need to be addressed include insufficient funding and somewhat outdated material and technical base; inconsistency of individual regulatory legal acts; some problems with training and advanced training of veterinary medicine specialists (Vetrov, 2022). As for development prospects, measures are needed and are currently being implemented in Ukraine to: strengthen food safety control; integrate into the European veterinary space by improving the system of national accredited state veterinary medicine laboratories and infrastructure. Thus, a comparative analysis of the state veterinary control system in Ukraine and the EU countries shows that the state control system in the European Union countries is more structured, independent and effective and is based on the principles of transparency, accountability and professional audit of public finances. In Ukraine, the state control system is at the stage of reform and is gradually approaching European standards. To achieve the EU level, Ukraine needs to continue implementing a number of reforms in the legislative and organizational spheres. Further integration of Ukraine into the European legal framework will allow to increase the efficiency of state veterinary and sanitary control, ensure high standards of food safety and reduce the risks of zoonotic animal diseases. Borrowing and adapting best practices from EU countries will contribute to increasing the efficiency of the state veterinary and sanitary control system in Ukraine.