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As of 2026, important changes to the licensing of veterinary practice and the circulation of veterinary medicinal products have come into force in Ukraine. These changes affect every veterinarian, clinic, pharmacy, and retailer working with veterinary medicines. The Ukrainian Veterinary Alliance (VAU) has prepared this practical overview of the key requirements.

What Activities Require a Licence?

Under Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Licensing of Business Activities', the following activities are subject to mandatory licensing:

•       veterinary practice (item 17);

•       business activities related to veterinary medicinal products (item 33), including: manufacturing and import, wholesale distribution, and retail sale.

Veterinary Practice: From Declaration to Licence

From 31 January 2026, the possibility of obtaining a veterinary practice licence by submitting a declaration has been abolished. All business entities must now obtain a licence through the full procedure — either in paper form through the State Consumer Service, or electronically via the Diia portal: diia.gov.ua/services/veterynarni-litsenzii.

The cost of a licence in 2026 is UAH 3,328 (one subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons at the date of the licensing decision). The processing time must not exceed 10 working days.

Please note: a veterinarian employed as a staff member of a licensed veterinary institution is not required to hold a personal licence.

Clinic Documentation: What Must Be on File

Licensed veterinary institutions and specialists are required to maintain appropriate records. The following must be present in a clinic / outpatient facility / veterinary point:

1.    Outpatient register (paper and/or electronic)

2.    Register of acquisition, sale, storage, and disposal of veterinary immunobiological products (VIPs)

3.    VIP transfer/acceptance acts

4.    Refrigeration temperature log

5.    Veterinary prescription register — Form No. 1 (general prescription medicines)

6.    Veterinary prescription register — Form No. 2 (narcotics, psychotropics, precursors, and euthanasia agents)

7.    Epizootics control register

8.    Call/visit register

9.    Issued veterinary documents register

For pharmacies, pharmacy points, and kiosks: no mandatory registers are required until the licensing conditions are officially approved.

Prescription Veterinary Medicines

Under Article 77 of the Law of Ukraine 'On Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare' (as amended on 16.12.2025), the following are dispensed by prescription only:

•       medicines containing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, or precursors;

•       medicines for animals intended for food production;

•       antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products;

•       medicines for treating conditions that require an accurate prior diagnosis;

•       medicines used for euthanasia of animals;

•       medicines containing new active substances (within the first 5 years after registration);

•       immunobiological veterinary medicines;

•       medicines containing hormonal, thyrostatic active substances, or beta-agonists;

•       medicated feed for animals intended for food production.

A prescription may only be issued following a clinical examination of the animal. A prescription for an antimicrobial product is valid for 5 days from the date of issue. The quantity of the medicine prescribed must be limited to the amount needed for one course of treatment.

Prescription veterinary medicines may be used without a written prescription — by a licensed veterinarian personally, or by a veterinarian of a licensed veterinary institution, provided that appropriate records are kept (Article 77, Part 11).

Categories of Antimicrobial Veterinary Medicinal Products (AVMPs)

Antimicrobial products are divided into four categories:

•       Category A — not used in veterinary medicine; cannot be used in food-producing animals.

•       Category B — restricted use; only when no effective Category C or D products are available; laboratory susceptibility testing required.

•       Category C — used after laboratory confirmation of susceptibility; only when no effective Category D products are available.

•       Category D — first-line products; may be prescribed on the first day of illness.

Under Article 78 of the Law, veterinary medicinal products must be used in accordance with the conditions of their state registration. Use of VMPs in a manner or for purposes inconsistent with their intended use is prohibited (except in cases provided for by law). Use of VMPs after their expiry date is also prohibited.

The use in veterinary medicine of AVMPs reserved for treating certain infections in humans is prohibited.

Obligations of Veterinary Professionals When Prescribing AVMPs

When prescribing an antimicrobial product, a veterinary specialist is required to:

•       issue a prescription following examination of the animal, and with laboratory confirmation where possible;

•       maintain a register of sick animals;

•       retain copies of issued prescriptions;

•       follow the product's package leaflet;

•       submit quarterly reports on the volumes of AVMPs used to the territorial body of the State Consumer Service.

Owners (keepers) of food-producing animals are required to:

•       use AVMPs only on the basis of a prescription issued by a veterinary specialist;

•       maintain records of AVMP acquisition and use in accordance with Article 80 of the Law;

•       retain AVMP prescriptions;

•       follow the product's package leaflet and the recommendations of the prescribing veterinarian;

•       participate in drawing up the act when AVMPs are prescribed and administered.

Cold Chain Requirements for Veterinary Immunobiological Products (VIPs)

A four-level cold chain system applies to all veterinary immunobiological products.

Third level — veterinary pharmacies, pharmacy points, and kiosks.

Upon receipt of VIPs, all regulated data must be entered into the acquisition, sale, storage, and disposal register with mandatory documentation of temperature recorder readings. Unloading of VIPs must not exceed 10 minutes. The person responsible for cold chain compliance at this level must keep records of VIP receipt and dispatch, and systematically record temperature readings.

Fourth level — veterinary institutions and veterinary professionals performing preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and other epizootic control activities.

Upon receipt of VIPs, all regulated data must be entered into the register with mandatory recording of delivery conditions and time. Veterinary institutions must maintain a sufficient number of thermal containers and cooling elements for transporting VIPs to the site of administration. Loading and unloading of thermal containers must not exceed 10 minutes.

Veterinary Prescriptions: Key Rules for Completion

In accordance with Order No. 752 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, dated 29.09.2022:

•       A prescription may not be issued more than three times for the same animal or group of animals without a repeat examination.

•       Toxic and potent substances — only one item per prescription; in other cases — no more than three items.

•       Prescriptions must be completed clearly and legibly; corrections are not permitted.

•       Prescriptions are issued in paper and/or electronic form.

Regulatory Framework: All Documents Referenced in This Article

Laws of Ukraine

1. Law of Ukraine 'On Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare' No. 1206-IX, dated 04.02.2021 (version of 02.03.2026, basis — Law No. 4718-IX of 16.12.2025)

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1206-20#Text

2. Law of Ukraine 'On Licensing of Business Activities' No. 222-VIII (version of 02.03.2026, basis — Law No. 4718-IX)

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/222-19#Text

Cabinet of Ministers Resolutions

3. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 896, dated 04.11.2015 'On Approval of the Licensing Conditions for Veterinary Practice'

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/896-2015-n/print

4. Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 795, dated 05.07.2024 'On Implementation of the First Stage of the Pilot Project on the Unified State Electronic Permit System'

Ministerial Orders

5. Order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food No. 752, dated 29.09.2022 'On Approval of the Form and Rules for Issuing Veterinary Prescriptions' (registered with the Ministry of Justice on 22.11.2022, No. 1452/38788)

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z1452-22#Text

6. Order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food 'On Approval of the Procedure for Issuing Veterinary Documents and Maintaining the Unified State Register of Veterinary Documents' (document z0510-25, entered into force 01.03.2026)

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0510-25#Text

7. Order 'On Approval of Amendments to the Rules for Transportation and Storage of Veterinary Preparations, Substances, Complete Feed, Feed Additives, and Veterinary Medicine Products' (document z0781-10, entered into force 20.09.2010)

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0781-10#Text

8. Order on the Procedure for Using Antimicrobial Veterinary Medicinal Products (document z0032-22, version of 08.07.2022)

https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0032-22#Text

Electronic Services and Government Bodies

9. Online licence application for veterinary practice (Diia portal):

https://diia.gov.ua/services/veterynarni-litsenzii

10. State Consumer Service — Licensing section:

https://dpss.gov.ua/diyalnist/licenzuvannya

Address: 1 B. Hrinchenka St., Kyiv, 01001, room 324

Tel.: +38 044-278-44-47

E-mail: [email protected]

This article was prepared by the Ukrainian Veterinary Alliance based on legislation current as of March 2026. Please monitor updates — the regulatory framework continues to evolve.

Ukrainian Veterinary Alliance