On 25 April 2019, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law On Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian Language as the National Language, which regulates the use of the Ukrainian language in key areas of society, including the public sector, business, television and other media, Internet, public health, and education.
In terms of the business sector, notable points of the new law include:
- Documentation. Ukrainian companies must prepare certain documents in the Ukrainian language, including charters and resolutions, employment agreements, and communication with state authorities. The law is silent on the use of languages in commercial contracts.
- Information to consumers. Information on goods and services offered to Ukrainian consumers must be provided in the Ukrainian language even when provided in other languages. This requirement also covers electronic commercial messages (i.e. advertisements).
- Advertising. All advertising in the country, with only a few exceptions, must be conducted in the Ukrainian language.
- Web sites. Web sites and the social networks’ pages of Ukrainian companies are required to be in Ukrainian. Such entities may have versions of their websites and pages in other languages, but the content of the Ukrainian version may not be less informative and these web sites must serve as the default pages.
- Mobile applications. Mobile applications of business entities selling goods or delivering services in Ukraine are required to have Ukrainian-language versions.
- Software User Interface. Computer programmes being sold in Ukraine are required to have a user interface in Ukrainian or English or another official EU language.
The law sets a transition period for businesses to prepare for the new requirements from two to 18 months after the law comes into effect. Currently, the law awaits a signature by the President of Ukraine, and official publication.
If you have further questions on this law or would like more detailed information on its implications for your business, please contact one of the following CMS local experts:
Olga Belyakova (olga.belyakova@cms-cmno.com) or Anna Pogrebna (anna.pogrebna@cms-rrh.com).
