In Ukraine from January 1, 2026 requirements apply on animal welfare. They apply to anyone who works with farm animals: keeping them, transporting them, killing them or performing other related work.
To confirm that a person knows these rules and is able to apply them in practice, a state certificate of sufficient knowledge and skills in the field of animal welfare is provided. It is issued by the territorial body of the State Service for the Protection of Food and Consumer Protection.
The certificate is required for employees and specialists who:
- take care of farm animals;
- work on livestock farms and complexes;
- transport animals;
- work at slaughterhouses (acceptance and slaughter of animals);
- perform other work that may affect the condition and well-being of animals.
For people who already have practical experience, the state has provided a transition period.
If you have worked with animals for at least one year and this experience was acquired before January 1, 2027, you do not need to undergo special training.
Your experience is recognized as sufficient, and on its basis you can obtain a state certificate.
Experience in the following activities is taken into account:
- keeping and caring for farm animals;
- transportation of animals;
- killing of animals;
- performing other related operations.
The main condition is that the total duration of such experience in one type of activity must be at least one year.
To obtain a certificate for the relevant type of activity, you must contact: territorial body of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection and submit:
- statement to obtain a certificate;
- written declaration to the application;
- a duly certified copy of the employment record book (if available) or information on employment activities from the register of insured persons of the State Register of Compulsory State Social Insurance;
- document on payment of administrative services.
These documents confirm that you have actually worked with animals and have the necessary experience.
The fee for issuing a state certificate is in size 0.03 of the minimum wage in effect on January 1 of the calendar year in which the territorial body of the State Service for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection received an application from a person to obtain a certificate.
As of January 1, 2026, this amount is UAH 259.41.
State certificate:
- confirms your knowledge and skills;
- provides an opportunity to legally work in the field of animal handling;
- required to be presented by the employee during inspections;
- is confirmation of the employee's competence to ensure humane and responsible treatment of animals.
Important! After the end of the transition period, employees who do not have relevant practical experience will undergo special training. This will ensure uniform approaches to compliance with animal welfare requirements throughout Ukraine. The implementation of mechanisms for such training is currently underway. The State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection will provide additional information on the details.
All detailed explanations, sample applications and other information can be found at official web portal of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection or directly at the territorial bodies of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in your region at the place of activity.