Field hearings of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Agrarian and Land Policy were held at the scientific-and-production complex BIOTESTLAB on the topic: "Illicit market of veterinary medicines: a threat to the state and food security".
The event was attended by People's Deputies of Ukraine, representatives of central executive bodies, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the National Police of Ukraine, specialised associations, the scientific community, international experts and participants in the veterinary medicine market.
During the hearings, one of the most pressing problems in the industry was discussed: the large-scale circulation of counterfeit, smuggled, and unregistered veterinary medicines, which poses a serious threat to animal health, food safety, the development of animal husbandry, and the state's food security.
Opening the discussion, Oleg Hrodzevych, CEO of BIOTESTLAB, emphasised that the fight against counterfeiting is not only a matter of business protection, but primarily a matter of responsibility to consumers and the state. In his report, he presented BIOTESTLAB as one of the leading Ukrainian manufacturers of veterinary medicines and vaccines, highlighting investments in production, quality control, scientific research, and the development of Ukraine's export potential.
Special attention was paid to the risks posed by the illegal circulation of veterinary medicines. The participants of the hearings were shown real examples of counterfeit products on the market, as well as the consequences of their use for animal health, the safety of products of animal origin and the reputation of legal producers.
The CEO of the Public Organisation Veterinary Union, Vasyl Antonenko, presented an analytical assessment of the veterinary medicine market and highlighted the scale of the shadow segment. According to experts, the volume of the illegal veterinary medicine market in Ukraine reaches about UAH 3.7 billion per year. Such volumes mean not only losses to the state budget but also the creation of unequal conditions of competition for enterprises that operate in accordance with the requirements of the law and invest in product quality and production development.
Vasyl Antonenko emphasised the need to systematically improve state oversight of the circulation of veterinary medicines, strengthen accountability for the production and sale of counterfeit products, and consolidate the efforts of the state, business, and the professional community to cleanse the market of illegal products.
Serhii Semenov, CEO of TRADE HOUSE BIOTETSLAB, presented a practical analysis of cases of falsification of veterinary medicines, which are already being detected on the Ukrainian market today. The participants of the committee hearings were shown real samples of counterfeit products that imitate preparations manufactured by BIOTESTLAB. During the presentation, a detailed comparison of original preparations and their counterfeit copies was carried out, in particular, packaging, labelling, instructions, identification elements and other signs that unscrupulous manufacturers use to mislead consumers.
Serhii Semenov emphasised that modern counterfeits are increasingly difficult to distinguish from original products. In many cases, even an experienced veterinarian needs to carefully check the packaging and accompanying materials to detect signs of counterfeiting. For pet owners, this task is even more difficult because, externally, a counterfeit preparation may be practically indistinguishable from the original.
Particular attention was paid to the risks associated with the use of such products. Unlike legally produced veterinary drugs, which undergo a full cycle of development, registration and quality control, the composition, effectiveness and safety of counterfeit products cannot be confirmed. As a result, animal health, treatment effectiveness, consumer trust in veterinary medicine, and the reputation of honest producers are at risk.
According to Serhii Semenov, the fight against counterfeiting should become a joint task of the state, business, and the professional community, because only the inevitability of punishment and effective control can stop the spread of dangerous products on Ukraine's veterinary market.
Separately, during the hearings, representatives of livestock and farming enterprises expressed their position, emphasising that the use of low-quality or counterfeit veterinary drugs poses direct economic risks to agricultural producers. This is not only about possible livestock losses or reduced animal productivity, but also about the risks of production process disruptions, additional treatment costs, and loss of confidence in the veterinary supply system. Industry representatives supported the need to strengthen state control over the circulation of veterinary medicines and emphasised the importance of creating equal and transparent working conditions for all market participants.
The participants in the hearings were unanimous in their conclusion: falsified veterinary medicines pose a threat not only to the veterinary medicine industry but also to the state's food security, human health, and Ukraine's international reputation.
Based on the results of the hearings, proposals will be prepared to improve legislation, strengthen control over the circulation of veterinary medicines and increase responsibility for the illegal production, import, storage and sale of falsified products.
BIOTESTLAB expresses its gratitude to the people's deputies of Ukraine, representatives of state bodies, specialised associations, the expert community and all participants of the event for the constructive dialogue and joint work on solving the problem, which is of great importance for the development of the veterinary industry and the protection of food security in Ukraine.