From 19 October 2026, the State Agrarian Register (DAR) has resumed accepting applications from enterprises in the agro-industrial complex for the granting of critically important status. The updated sectoral criteria were approved by Order No. 11 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine dated 2 September 2026, in implementation of Resolution No. 76 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 27 January 2023.
Among the key changes for agricultural enterprises is a reduction in the minimum area of agricultural land, which must now be at least 200 ha instead of 1,000 ha. The minimum annual income threshold has also been lowered from 40 to 20 million UAH. At the same time, the requirement regarding the area of perennial plantations remains unchanged — at least 50 ha.
For fisheries sector entities, the main benchmarks are the use of at least 60% of the established limits for aquatic bioresources, production of at least 10 tonnes of aquaculture products, special use of aquatic bioresources, activity in the field of aquaculture, participation in the “eRybaltstvo” system, and the availability of fisheries infrastructure.
To obtain critically important status, an enterprise must meet at least two sectoral criteria, as well as fulfil mandatory conditions: pay an average wage of at least 25,941 UAH for the last calendar month and have no arrears in the payment of taxes and the single social contribution.
In addition, the requirements regarding the determination of the main type of economic activity (KVED) as of 1 June 2026 remain in force. Enterprises must submit a Tax Calculation for the last reporting period with confirmation of its acceptance by the supervisory authority. The date on which the main KVED is fixed does not change.
“Updating the sectoral criteria is important for agricultural enterprises, as it expands opportunities for agricultural businesses to confirm their significant role in the sector. In particular, reducing the minimum area of cultivated land and the annual income threshold will enable more agricultural enterprises to meet the sectoral criteria and obtain critically important status from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy,” said Liudmyla Honcharenko, Director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Lviv Regional State Administration.