Bridging policy and practice: enforcing trans fat elimination in Ukraine

Issue/Problem

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) contribute to cardiovascular disease and preventable mortality. WHO recommends eliminating TFAs through a limit of 2g per 100g of total fat. Ukraine adopted this standard in 2020. However, translating regulation into effective enforcement remains a key challenge, particularly in fragile and resource-constrained settings. The ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has further strained institutional capacity, highlighting gaps in monitoring mechanisms and regulatory implementation.

Description of the problem

To address these challenges, the WHO provided strategic leadership and technical support to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to enforce TFA regulations. Since 2022, WHO has led a comprehensive approach combining policy support, institutional coordination and capacity building. This included the development of national guidance, assessment of laboratory readiness, targeted technical trainings, and inter-laboratory exercises, followed up by the FEEDcities research project.

Results

The initiative enabled designated laboratories to perform standardized TFA measurements based on WHO protocol and strengthened national enforcement capacity. A state monitoring TFAs in food products (based on FEEDcities methodology) was introduced in 2025 to support surveillance and compliance. The approach translated regulatory standards into operational tools, enabling more effective implementation despite the ongoing crisis.

Lessons

Effective TFA elimination requires moving beyond regulation to building enforcement systems supported by strong institutional capacity. WHO’s leadership in providing technical guidance, coordination and capacity building proved critical for bridging policy and practice. Ukraine’s experience demonstrates that even in complex emergency settings, regulatory measures can be operationalized through structured, evidence-based approaches, offering a transferable model for other countries.

Key messages

• Ukraine has built a full national capacity for trans fat elimination, transforming from regulatory adoption to a functioning enforcement system supported by monitoring and laboratory infrastructure.

• Despite war-related challenges, Ukraine continues advancing trans fat elimination, demonstrating that strong public health policies can be implemented even in complex emergency settings.