Harmonisation of Ukrainian Legislation in the Field of Organic Production With International Standards

The article examines the process of harmonising Ukrainian legislation in the field of organic production with international and European standards. It analyses the conceptual and legal essence of harmonisation as an instrument of legal integration, in particular its role in ensuring the compatibility of the national legal field with EU regulations, Codex Alimentarius and FAO and IFOAM recommendations. The purpose of the article is to study the theoretical, methodological and practical foundations for harmonising Ukrainian legislation in the field of organic production with international standards, in particular EU standards, and to justify ways of improving it. The article reviews Ukrainian legislation in the field of organic production and describes the institutional mechanism for state control and certification. It identifies key challenges facing Ukraine in implementing international requirements, including insufficient detail in national standards, limited state support, certification issues, and the need to improve a number of procedures. Particular attention is paid to the need to adapt to the requirements of Regulation (EU) No. 2018/848 and the role of the Association Agreement with the EU as an instrument of legal compatibility. Current international trends in the development of the organic products market are analysed, confirming the strategic importance of legal harmonisation in the field of sustainable agriculture. Priority areas for improving legal policy in Ukraine have been identified, covering legislative, institutional, informational, educational and international aspects. Harmonisation of legislation in this area is seen as the basis for improving the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, ensuring transparency in the organic market and fulfilling Ukraine's international obligations. Key aspects of legal compatibility have been studied, including the ban on GMOs, certification requirements, transparency of labelling, traceability of the supply chain and adaptation of the control system. National and international approaches to organic production in the EU, the US, Canada and Japan were characterised, and the level of compliance of Ukrainian legislation with international standards was assessed using comparative and SWOT analysis. The study identified the strengths of national legislation, in particular the legal definition of organic production, the ban on the use of GMOs, the creation of a state register of operators, and active participation in international technical assistance programmes. At the same time, problematic aspects were identified, such as insufficient regulation of aquaculture, a limited number of certification bodies, unclear procedures for importing organic products, and fragmented use of international labelling. The scientific novelty of the article lies in a comprehensive approach to analysing Ukraine's legislative framework from the perspective of its compliance with EU standards, as well as in the development of a model for adapting national legislation to international requirements. A set of strategic directions for improving the legislative and institutional system has been proposed: updating the basic law in line with changes in EU legislation, strengthening the institutional capacity of control bodies, introducing a digital certification platform, developing legal awareness among farmers and consumers, and deepening international co-operation. Harmonisation of national legislation is defined not only as formal coordination of regulatory texts, but also as a systemic transformation of the legal, institutional and educational environments with the aim of achieving Ukraine's full integration into the international organic market.