Industrial visa-free travel with the EU is now a step closer: Parliament has passed the law
The Verkhovna Rada and the Ministry of Economy announced the adoption of the document.
On 7 April, parliament adopted draft law No. 12221 “On amendments to certain laws of Ukraine regarding the harmonisation of the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies and the technical regulation system with the requirements of the European Union”. The document is a government bill; it was registered as early as 18 November 2024, and the Committee on Economic Development was designated as the lead committee.
What the law changes
The Verkhovna Rada and the Ministry of Economy explain that the law is intended to bring Ukrainian rules in the field of accreditation and technical regulation closer to EU standards, increase confidence in national certification bodies, and create conditions for wider access for Ukrainian industrial goods to the EU market. The document transposes EU Regulation No 765 and Decision No 768 into Ukrainian law and, in particular, provides for mutual recognition of accreditation under certain conditions, rules on cross-border accreditation, the obligation to take into account the practice of the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Commission in the field of accreditation, as well as increased business responsibility for the accuracy of product information.
When will the industrial visa-free regime come into effect?
A key clarification is that the adoption of the law does not yet mean the automatic launch of ‘industrial visa-free trade’. The Ministry of Economy explicitly states: most of these changes will come into force simultaneously with the entry into force of the ACAA Agreement between Ukraine and the EU. It is this agreement that is intended to ensure the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, i.e. Ukrainian certificates, for industrial goods.
In the first phase, the ACTA will cover three priority sectors: low-voltage electrical equipment, electromagnetic compatibility of equipment, and machinery. Once the agreement comes into force, Ukrainian manufacturers in these sectors will be able to supply products to the EU market without the need for re-certification in EU member states.
For businesses, this means not only simplified export procedures but also stricter requirements regarding product conformity, the accuracy of product information, and the operation of conformity assessment bodies in accordance with European rules. The Verkhovna Rada also links the adoption of this law to Ukraine’s further integration into the EU’s internal market and the expansion of opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers.
As a reminder, the European Union has extended the duty-free regime for imports of Ukrainian steel and iron for a further three years. Thus, Ukrainian manufacturers will continue to be able to export products to EU countries without quotas, duties or other restrictions.
