The four companies are PJSC Myronivska Poultry Farm, Myronivsky Meat Processing Plant Lehko, LLC Agromars and LLC Sniatynska Nova Poultry Farm.

Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysyazhnuk said: "In December last year, a decision had been made to include Ukraine in the list of countries eligible to export poultry products to the EU. Since then, inspections were made at several establishments in order to meet all the requirements of EU legislation."

The Minister said that based on the the results of the inspections, the State Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service of Ukraine gave the General Directorate of the European Commission on Health and Consumer Affairs (DG SANCO) the task of deciding from a list of companies.

Mr Prysyazhnuk also stated the importance of exporting food originating from animals since it is necessary to confirm that the state's current system of food safety and quality control is adequate to export to foreign countries.

Plans to export over 50,000 tons of poultry to EU in 2013

Mr Prysyazhnuk announced that with the approval of Ukrainian poultry into EU markets, the country has made plans to export over 50,000 tons of poultry and poultry products.

"I am convinced that this year, we will export at least 50,000 tons of poultry. The volume is expected to grow each year," he said.

According to experts, Ukraine can potentially export about 200,000 tons of chicken meat to European countries on an annual basis.

At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture has forecast that Ukraine will reduce imports of dietetic meat twofold in 2013.

The Ukrainian Agricultural Ministry is constantly targeting foreign markets for sale of livestock products.