On June 10, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution No. 760, amending the procedure for issuing, reissuing, and terminating special water-use permits, approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 321 of March 13, 2002.
The decision is aimed at simplifying procedures in the field of water use in accordance with the requirements of the Water Code of Ukraine and European approaches to water resource management.
Experts from the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), as part of a project to support Ukrainian agricultural producers from affected regions in partnership with the international humanitarian organization Mercy Corps, explain exactly what will change in the procedure for obtaining water-use permits.
In particular, the issuance (or refusal to issue), reissuance, or termination of a special water-use permit in electronic form will be carried out through the information system for providing administrative services of the State Water Agency and its territorial bodies. This will use electronic signatures in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine "On Electronic Identification and Electronic Trust Services."
The amendments also provide that water-use limits for water users who use water on the basis of water-supply agreements with primary water users do not require approval from organizations under the management of the State Water Agency.
Separately, it is clarified that the permit must indicate information about environmental protection measures aimed at achieving environmental goals, in particular those defined by river basin management plans, as well as the deadlines for their implementation.
Another important change concerns enterprises that hold an integrated environmental permit. If the conditions for special water use are already defined by such a permit, there is no need to obtain a separate special water-use permit.
For agricultural producers, these changes may be important in cases where a farm uses water for production needs or irrigation, or operates on the basis of agreements with primary water users. The updated procedure should simplify certain administrative procedures and make the issuance of permits more digitalized.
As a reminder, the UAC legal advice hotline continues to provide agricultural producers with free professional support on issues of employee reservation (deferment from mobilization), confirmation of critical-enterprise status, accounting and tax records, land relations, and participation in state support programs.
To get a consultation, submit your request via the online form: https://forms.gle/v56UzTAsrD9Zrx998
For clarification, contact the legal advice hotline at: +38 067 522-03-43
Background:
MERCY CORPS is an international humanitarian organization that operates in more than 40 countries worldwide, providing assistance to people affected by disasters, wars, poverty, and the consequences of climate change.